"Allen: Blown-Out Gulf Well to Be Sealed by Sunday"

"KENNER, La. — The U.S. government's point man on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill said Wednesday that BP's blown-out well is expected to be permanently sealed and declared dead by Sunday, nearly five months after a rig explosion set off the disaster.

National Incident Commander Thad Allen told reporters gathered at a seafood distributor in Kenner, La., that a relief well is expected to intersect with the blown-out well within 24 hours. He said mud and cement will then be pumped in, which is expected to seal the blown-out well within four days.

"We are within a 96-hour window of killing the well," Allen said."

Harry R. Weber reports for the Associated Press September 15, 2010.