British Petroleum (BP) is attempting to contain the Gulf of Mexico oil well leak by using a mile-long four-inch “riser insertion tube.” The tube was inserted by robot mini-subs into the 21-inch-diameter pipe that is gushing oil. After about a week of operation, the tube has siphoned off more than a half-million gallons of oil. However, recently the collection rate has slowed down. More details on the technology here. BP-produced live videos of recovery efforts of the last seven days, including the “Top Kill Operation,” can be seen here.