Ask CBS News: Will Storms Undo Work on Oil Well?

In our ongoing "Ask CBS News" segment, we've answered your questions about the Gulf oil spill. Viewers can leave questions on "CBS Evening News" Anchor Katie Couric's Twitter page or the CBS News Facebook page.

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Special Section: Disaster in the Gulf

Tonight we answered another one of your questions.

A viewer asked: "Will increased wave activity from any tropical system hamper any work that's already been done on the (relief) well?"

CBS News Correspondent Kelly Cobiella answered from Port Fourchon, La., that BP feels fairly confident that it can pick up where it left off. The real issue is the loss of time, up to two weeks if it actually has to evacuate. The other issue out there, though, is really picking up that oil that's already in the Gulf. The skimming, the burning doesn't work in high seas, and the good news is those high seas do help a little bit. They help to break up some of that oil.

More Oil Spill Questions and Answers

Ask CBS News: How Long Will Oil Hurt Gulf?
Ask CBS News: Does BP Have Wildlife Fund?
Ask CBS News: What Stops Oil Flow on Other Rigs?
Ask CBS News: Will Oil Spill Affect Gas Prices?
Ask CBS News: Are BP's Oil Relief Wells Safe?
Ask CBS News: Is Gulf Shellfish Safe to Eat?
Ask CBS News: Can Foreign Ships Help Clean Up?
Ask CBS News: What's the Value of Oil Lost?
Ask CBS News: Why Doesn't La. Want Moratorium?
Ask CBS News: How Many Offshore Rigs are There?
Ask CBS News: Is Burning Oil on Water Effective?
Ask CBS News: Can I Volunteer to Clean Up Oil?
CBS News Answers Your Oil Spill Questions
CBS News Answers More Oil Spill Questions

[RichardBarry]

The Deepwater accident happened in good weather and the drift of the burning rig caused its umbilical to bend the blowout preventor 10 degrees. Thank God the shaft casing was not damaged. What would happen in a future bad weather accident?

Richard Barry
Key West, Fl. 33045
305-587-0011