BP was still hoping to attempt the first of two operations to permanently plug its ruptured Gulf of Mexico well on Tuesday.

Oil is no longer spewing into the Gulf of Mexico — at least temporarily — as BP said it choked off the flow from its undersea well.

BP on Wednesday started a crucial test on its ruptured oil well in the Gulf of Mexico that it hopes will lead to halting the flow of crude oil.

BP on Tuesday delayed a critical test that will determine if it can close a cap atop its ruptured Macondo well.

Washington was preparing a revised offshore oil drilling moratorium and clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico returned to normal on Friday.

High seas and winds kicked up by Hurricane Alex were propelling the landward advance of the far-flung oil slick.

A relief well that might divert the gushing Gulf of Mexico oil leak is still weeks from completion, a top United States official said on Wednesday.

Rough weather whipped up by the season’s first Atlantic hurricane is disrupting clean-up of the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.