Official: Seep found near BP's blown out oil well

NEW ORLEANS -- A federal official said Sunday that scientists are concerned about a seep and possible methane seen near BP's leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico.

Both could be signs there are leaks in the well that's been capped off for three days.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Sunday because an announcement about the next steps had not yet been made.

The official is familiar with the spill oversight but would not clarify what is seeping near the well. The official said BP is not complying with the government's demand for more monitoring. BP spokesman Mark Salt declined to comment on the allegation, but said "we continue to work very closely with all government scientists on this."

Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen will make the final decisions on the next step. The official said Allen would issue a letter to BP shortly allowing testing to proceed in 24-hour increments, but also requiring more analysis of the seep and the possible observation of methane over the well.

Dan Hanson and his wife Debbie of Fairhope, Ala., pray as they join others in a sunrise service Sunday at a beach pavilion in Gulf Shores, Ala. About 100 people gathered to pray for people and wildlife and an end to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico.

If Allen doesn't get the response he wants, the testing could stop, the official said.