The government's point man on the Gulf oil spill is no longer giving a timeline for completing the final stages of plugging BP's runaway well for good.

Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen told reporters Wednesday that he will give the order to complete the so-called relief well when he is ready.

He says BP PLC still needs to come up with a plan to alleviate pressure that may build up once the relief well intersects with the runaway well.

Ultimately, the plan is to pump mud and cement into the runaway well from the bottom to plug it permanently.

Allen says he doesn't want to give timelines anymore because if he has to change them, that could cause a credibility problem.