BP's New Target: July 27

Let’s hold them to it: BP is hoping to finish drilling its relief well in the Gulf of Mexico by July 27—weeks earlier than the deadline the company has set publicly. "In a perfect world with no interruptions, it's possible to be ready to stop the well between July 20 and July 27," says the head of BP's Gulf Coast restoration unit, managing director Bob Dudley, before adding that hurricane season made perfect conditions “unlikely.” However, even if the relief well is finished early, it may not work. BP is developing backup plans. The Wall Street Journal says these include connecting the leaking well to two nearby pipelines.