美国海岸警卫队说，对遏制墨西哥湾漏油取得的进展持谨慎乐观态度。
在星期五的简报会上，美国海岸警卫队萨德.艾伦海军上将对记者说，放置在漏油油井上方的顶罩正把一些原油和气体吸取到水面的船上。但是他说，阻止美国历史上最严重漏油的工作仍处在初期阶段。
艾伦说，原油仍从顶罩的气孔流入海中。但是他说，这些气孔正在被慢慢关闭。艾伦说，官员需要几个小时的时间才能评估顶罩的工作成效以及吸收了多少原油。
奥巴马总统星期五晚些时候将前往墨西哥湾，评估封堵漏油的工作。在星期四接受美国有线电视新闻网采访时奥巴马说，他对整个局势感到愤怒。
The U.S. Coast Guard says it is cautiously optimistic about containing the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.
In a briefing Friday, Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen said a cap placed on the leaking well is siphoning gas and oil to a ship at the surface. But he said the process of containing the worst oil spill in U.S. history is still in its early stages.
Allen said oil is continuing to escape into the water from vents in the cap, but he said those vents are slowly being closed. He said it will be hours before officials can assess how well the cap is working and how much oil is being collected.
President Barack Obama is visiting the region later Friday to assess the efforts. In an interview Thursday on CNN, Mr. Obama said he is furious about the entire situation.