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. sometimes it's not skimmable. >> reporter: the progress in killing the well has been accompanied by a change in command at bp. embattled ceo tony hayward will be reassigned to russia. his replacement, gulf coast native bob dudley. the two men could not be more different. hayward's comments have set off a firestorm of criticism. >> no one wants this thing over more than i do. i'd like my life back. >> reporter: dudley seems to have struck a much more conciliatory tone. >> i thinksd