Engineers in the Gulf of Mexico have made an emergency repair to a containment cap after an underwater robot had bumped into it, damaging its ventilation system.

The logistics coordinator on the bridge of the Discoverer Enterpriser said the device was placed back on the gusher around 9 p.m. EDT Wednesday.

The cap, which had been sucking up about 29,000 gallons of crude oil an hour before the accident, has returned to capturing some of the escaping oil.

Still, the ship's coordinator said it would take some time for the system to "get ramped back up."

Meanwhile, tar balls have been washing ashore on many beaches in the Gulf, prompting the region's officials to sound the alarm.

Alabama Gov. Bob Riley has declared this Sunday a Day of Prayer to remember those impacted by the spill.

Riley has asked state residents to turn to God, and has called for a specific prayer for a solution to stop the leak.

In 2007, the governor also asked residents of his state to pray when it faced a crippling drought.