THE BBC: BP says the “static kill” of its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well has worked, a big step towards sealing it. In the procedure, special drilling fluid known as mud is pumped in the well, forcing the oil back down. BP said well pressure was being controlled by the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling mud, which was “the desired outcome”. The well is being monitored, and further pumping of mud could be necessary, it added. BP began pumping mud into the well from vessels on the surface at 2000 GMT on Tuesday, in order to counter the pressure from the oil pushing out of the reservoir below the seabed. The company could eventually seal the mouth of the well with cement. MORE