Dances with tar balls

Kevin Costner saves the day:

PORT FOURCHON, Louisiana (AFP) – Hollywood star Kevin Costner and BP Chief Operating Officer Doug Suttles announced plans to begin using an invention that the actor says will accelerate clean-up of oily water from the gushing Gulf leak.

"I didn't come here to save the day," an emotional Costner told reporters here on Friday, adding: "I have come to participate."

Suttles said BP had purchased 32 centrifugal oil-water separator machines from Costner's company, Ocean Therapy Solutions.

"This is real technology with real science behind it," said Suttles, a mechanical engineer.

Used in conjunction with other oil spill collection operations, Costner's "V-20" technology will eventually help BP process up to 128,000 barrels of oily water daily from Gulf waters and polluted shorelines, Suttles said.

The broken wellhead is leaking oil at a rate of up to 60,000 barrels daily, according to the latest government figures.

Thank you, sir. I will never again make fun of your movies.