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Repairing a leak on the new cap on top of the well, b.p. resumed pressure tests. the tests involve slowly closing valves on the cap, and measuring the oil pressure that builds up inside. it was just a couple of hours into those tests that b.p. senior vice president kent wells was able to make this announcement. >> the official time of the of choke being fully closed, that the well was fully shut in is approximately 2:25 this afternoon. as of this time, there is no flow of oil going in the gulf of mexico. >> reporter: over a 48-hour period, b.p. and officials will monitor pressure levels inside...

>> shepard: i don't understand why they would take the risk. they can siphon the oil up up to the surface and later they have the relief well to fix it. why take the chance now that it might blow something down below the sea noor unless you don't want people to know how much oil is coming out. unless that, why do it? >> reporter: federal officials want another option. we're in the middle of hurricane season, it's likely a storm would force the ships collecting oil to leave the area and you would have oil spewing uncontrolled into the gulf. if the pressure tests reveal that you can use that cap...

Outcomes. >> this has been a substantial impact on the environment, gulf coast and people of the culture. we didn't want to compound it by making a mistake. overabundance of caution. >> reporter: the government says the delay was to reduce chances of making the spill worse but many gulf coast residents have been growing impatient with the status quo. as more oil escaped from the well and more tar balls warned up on beaches -- washed up on beaches. >> what is more important than this? this is what we're working around. they've given us the final days for how many times now? we don't want answer...

Jenna: hi, everybody, i'm jenna lee, welcome to the second hour of "happening now". jon: and i'm jon scott. bp announces it is moving forward on pressure tests of a new 75-ton containment cap sitting on top of the blown-out well. after fixing a leak in that cap today, a cap that can, hopefully, stop the flow of crude that's gushing into the gulf. thad allen explaining the importance of pressure a short time ago. >> if we get very low pressure readings, it'd be the equivalent of putting your thumb over the garden hose and the water's going somewhere else because there's no pressure. high pressu...

The short run to keep a roof over their families' heads while they look for work, they go back to school and they continue to do what they do, which is to take care of their families and follow the rules and just want to know they've got a job available. >> senator debbie stabenow of michigan. we appreciate your time today, senator. thank you. >> you're welcome. well, bp starts critical pressure tests on that blownout well. we've just got word that the well integrity test has started. it's going to last at least six hours and could go up to 48 hours. they're going to check on the integrity o...