US President Barack Obama will extend a moratorium on deep water offshore drilling for six months, the White House says.
The decision comes as a preliminary report on lessons from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is set for release.
Mr Obama is also expected to order tighter industry safeguards.
BP says its operation to pump mud into a breached Gulf of Mexico oil well to try and stem the flow of oil caused by a rig explosion is going to plan.
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