Dead corals and marine life found near BP's Gulf well

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Dead corals and marine life found near BP's Gulf well

The Associated Press Published Thursday, November 4, 2010 9:05PM EDT

Roughneck Neil Byrd, left, inspects a section of drilling pipe that was used to pump cement to seal the Macondo well, the source of the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and oil spill, on the drilling floor of the Development Driller III, which drilled the relief well, in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010. (AP / Gerald Herbert)

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PENSACOLA, Fla. - Federal scientists say they have found damage to deep sea corals and other marine life several kilometres from where BP's blown-out well spewed millions of litres of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration along with Penn State University and others examined the coral.

Scientists said Thursday that surveys using remotely operated vehicles down to 1,400 metres, and roughly 11 kilometres from the BP well, found dead and dying corals. Some appeared to be coated with a "brown substance."

Further tests are needed to determine if the substance is oil, and if it came from BP's well that blew out in April off Louisiana.

NOAA chief Jane Lubchenco says the government is committed to ongoing research in the region to determine the extent of damage.