Bonnie forces Gulf evacuations

Allen, who is leading the federal response to the spill, said many of the vessels and rigs began preparing to move Thursday night.

Earlier on Thursday, officials said the departure of the relief well rig would delay work on the operation -- described as the permanent fix to the ruptured well -- for at least 10 days.

Allen said the cap placed over the damaged well in the Gulf of Mexico will remain sealed and continue to stop oil from escaping even if the more than 2,000 people who have been working at the well site are off the water.
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RELATED TOPICS

* Gulf Coast Oil Spill
* Hurricanes and Cyclones
* Thad Allen

The storm could force officials to temporarily scale back efforts to search beneath the surface for leaking oil. But Allen said Thursday that the remote vehicles used to monitor the area will be the last to leave and the first to return.

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