Deepwater joint investigation board concludes 3rd day in 4th session of hearings

HOUSTON — The Deepwater Horizon joint investigation concluded the third day of the fourth session of hearings Wednesday into the circumstances surrounding the explosion, fire, pollution and sinking of the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon, with multiple loss of life in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010. 

The joint investigation has the powers of both convening agencies, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEM), and is co-chaired and staffed by representatives of both agencies. For the public hearing, the joint investigation is following the policies and procedures for a U.S Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation contained in 46 Code of Federal Regulations Part 4 and USCG policy (available on the joint investigation Web site: www.deepwaterinvestigation.com ).  The facts collected at this hearing, along with the lead investigators' conclusions and recommendations will be forwarded to Coast Guard Headquarters and BOEM for approval. Once approved, the final investigative report will be made available to the public and the media. No analysis or conclusions will be presented during the hearing. 

The joint investigation is conducting the hearings in sessions.  Session one was held May 11-12, 2010, and investigated the circumstances surrounding the fire, explosion, pollution and sinking of the MODU.  The second session was held May 26-29, 2010, with the focus on gathering information on the MODU's materiel condition, crew qualifications, emergency preparedness, and casualty timeline. The third session of hearings was held July 19-23, 2010, with the focus on the "how" and the "why" (which might also be considered the "technical verification" phase).

The fourth session of hearings began Monday and will continue through Friday.  As part of the fourth session, testimony Wednesday began at 8 a.m. and continued until 6:20 p.m.  Testimony was given by four witnesses.

The witnesses Wednesday were:   

1. Vincent Tabler, Halliburton, cementer

2.  Harry Thierens, BP, vice president for drilling and completions, operations

3.  Mark Hay, Transocean, subsea supervisor

4.  Billy Stringfellow, Transocean, subsea superintendent

Thursday’s public hearing is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at the Hilton Hobby Airport, 8181 Airport Blvd., Houston, Texas in the Moody Ballroom.  Thursday’s witnesses are scheduled to be:

1. Kent Wells, BP, senior vice president

2. David Sims, BP, drilling and completon operations manager

3. Pat O'Bryan, BP, vice president drilling and completions, Gulf of Mexico, Deepwater

4. Yancy Keplinger, Transocean, dynamic positioning officer

For Deepwater Horizon joint investigation information:www.deepwaterinvestigation.com

For Deepwater Horizon oil spill response information: www.restorethegulf.gov

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