Heading to the US BP says a mile-long tube is funneling crude oil from the ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico into a tanker on the surface.

It's the first success in containing the massive leak, that's threatening to be a major environmental disaster.

BP's senior executive vice president, Kent Wells, says the new effort is working well so far. The amount being drawn is gradually increasing, but it will take several days to measure it.

The operation was stopped briefly when the tube became dislodged. But after several attempts, BP succeeded in inserting a tube into the well to capture oil and gas.