BP: We've Captured Some Oil

BP's new contraption has begun collecting oil from its gushing well, but we won't know until later today whether it's going to make a noticeable dent, the company says. "There is flow coming up the pipe," said chief operating officer Doug Suttles on NBC's Today show. "Just now, I don't know the exact rate."

Engineers managed to place a cap on the well last night, though the fit isn't perfect because of how they had to cut the broken riser pipe. If all goes well, Suttles said he hopes it will capture "90 plus percent of this flow. I think that's possible with this design." All that oil still spewing at the site as seen on the live feed is expected, he said. The next step will be to close four vent valves on the lid, he told CBS.
(More Gulf oil spill stories.)