The federal government has announced it will allow BP to keep the blown out Macondo well closed and continue the integrity test on it for the next 24 hours despite the detection of "undetermined anomalies" near the well. Government officials are worried about seepage being detected near the well and the possible observation of methane gas over the well. If there is seepage, this means that oil or gas is seeping into the rocks surrounding the well and bubbling up to the surface. Seepage indicates that the wellbore is damaged somewhere under the surface so continuing the pressure test could possibly damage the well even more. If the seepage continues, BP will be forced to reopen the closed valves on the new cap, once again letting oil flow into the Gulf of Mexico. If they are forced to open the valves, BP will once again start its collection effort by pumping the oil to ships waiting on the surface. BP officials claim they can capture up to 60,000 to 80,000 barrels per day with the additional equipment that has been moved into the area if they are forced to restart the collection process.

BP hoped the current cap, which is more of less a new blowout preventer, would allow them to close the well until the relief wells are completed later this month or sometime in early August. The only way they will be allowed to keep the cap closed though is if there are not further anomalies observed in the well bore.