Updated

The U.S. government's point person on the Gulf of Mexico oil spill said the well that blew out 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., on Wednesday 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 by Sunday.

"Four days from now it could be all done," Allen said.

Meanwhile, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said monitoring of oil that remains in the Gulf continues.

The April 20 explosion killed 11 workers and led to 206 million gallons of oil spewing from BP's undersea well.

The Associated Press contributed to this report