Operation Bottom Kill News Today

Skimming it. if not, theyre on standby. >> reporter: researchers say the oil is still there, simply sunk beneath the surface. they say the effect on marine life is anyones guess. the oil thats made to it shore is already having an effect. >> nearly one in five beaches in the gulf coast region that are regularly monitored have been closed or under advisory or notice because of the oil spill. >> reporter: that oil spill is quickly coming to a close. crews are on track to killing the damaged well, ...

Retired admiral thad allen said they have two priorities. >> first w to pumping mud and cement down the top of the well. what we call the static kill. >> reporter: within weeks the launch "operation bottom kill," relief wells will be drilled to permanently seal the damaged well. what has proven to be a bigger challenge is finding the oil. much of it has dispersed beneath the water, keeping skimmer boats docked. >> some of these patches are only sheen at this point. it becomes very weathered. som...