A federal judge says he expects the second phase of a trial over BP's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to last 16 days.

An order issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said the second phase will be tried in two parts.

The first part, which starts Sept. 30 and lasting four days, will explore BP's efforts to stop the flow of oil that gushed from its blown-out Macondo well. Testimony during that part will be limited to information about the oil below the surface. It will not include testimony about the removal of oil from the surface through in-situ burning, skimming, or with booms.

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