Risk assessments on the next stage, to close off the valve where the oil is coming from, are still being carried out.

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Though a program displays panels showing all the critical processes of a real rig (fire and gas detectors, valve status, oil flow from the sea bed and so on), and then responds to the actions of the trainee by altering these displays appropriately, a human operator can intervene at any time if things seem to be going too smoothly.

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Safe to say that the Department of Defense does not have a submersible with arms to shut off the valve of a deep-water oil well.

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Mike Schaffner directs information technology for the Valve and Measurement Group of oil and gas products and services company Cameron in Houston.

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They're making plans now for -- even as they drill these two relief wells that optimistically will take quite some time -- how do we plug this leak either through using the robotics to effect the valve -- how are we dispersing this so that that oil never gets to the top and then through a natural system gets -- largely dissipates at the bottom?

WHITEHOUSE: Aboard Air Force One En Route Andrews Air Force Base