The Louisiana Workforce Commission (LWC) helped to provide 1,800 local workers with specialist training to help in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup operation last week.

In an announcement, the group said it has been working closely with PEC Premier, the training coordinator for the entire Gulf of Mexico spill response operation.

"We want to ensure that Louisiana is ready with trained applicants whenever the need for oil spill workers arises," said LWC executive director Curt Eysink.

"We are doing everything we can to put Louisianans to work and help with the clean-up efforts," he added.

Over the weekend, BP announced that its latest solution to stem the flow of oil escaping from a fractured pipe near the base of the ultra deepwater well is progressing well.

The company used remotely operated vehicles to sheer off the fractured section of the pipe in order to place a cap over it.

While the operation was successful, the company has stressed that it is only a partial solution, and oil will continue to escape through to August, when two relief wells will be completed, diverting the flow of crude.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development