BP has finished pumping cement into its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well ahead of a permanent blow-out operation later this month. National Incident Commander Thad Allen said that no further oil will spill into the Gulf until the final “bottom kill” operation seals the well.

Adm. Thad Allen: “The decision was made last night that the well is in a proper condition where we could cement it. That would increase the integrity of the well as far as a potential leak of hydrocarbons and would actually enhance our ability to do the bottom kill. This is not the end, but it will virtually assure us that there will be no chance of oil leaking into the environment.”

With the Gulf oil disaster entering a new phase, questions are emerging around BP’s plans for the oil that remains beneath the well. There has been speculation BP will try to sell off the reservoir or even resume drilling at a future date to capture the estimated 1.9 billion gallons that haven’t spewed into the Gulf. On Thursday, a BP spokesperson declined to comment on the company’s plans for the well when asked by the Associated Press.