Alex may delay improved oil collection

Waves of 10 to 12 feet would prevent BP from connecting a third rig to an underwater containment system. That process needs three days of good weather, said Kent Wells, a BP senior vice president. The rig is expected to nearly double the amount of oil siphoned from the leak to between 40,000 and 50,000 barrels a day. The storm's winds are expected to stay far enough west of the spill to avoid any interruption to the drilling of two relief wells, which BP officials hope will completely cut off the flow of oil into the Gulf in August.

Wall St. Journal June 29, 2010