BP has at least temporarily stopped the oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico for the first time since the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion nearly ninety days ago. On Thursday, BP successfully closed the valve on a containment cap placed over the ruptured well, choking off the oil. Tests will continue to determine if pressure is high enough to keep the cap in place or whether the well will need to be reopened and contained by another device. Up to 184 million gallons of oil have gushed into the Gulf so far. BP’s chief operating officer, Doug Suttles, gave the news a cautious welcome.

Doug Suttles: “It’s an encouraging sign. In a couple more days it may be even more encouraging. But no celebrations. I mean, you know, if you go talk to these people that live here, that 'celebration' is a wrong word. But it could be — we could be very close, whether it’s through this activity or through the relief wells, to the point where we feel like — I think everyone feels like we’ve begun to turn a corner, and an important corner. But no, it’s not the time to celebrate, I don’t think.”