The purpose of this joint investigation is to develop conclusions and recommendations as they relate to the Deepwater Horizon MODU explosion and loss of life on April 20, 2010. 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. 

It is expected that there will be at least one more session of this joint investigation.  Subsequent proceedings will examine the recovery, examination, analysis and evaluation of the critical drilling and blow out preventer equipment. 

At this time, a fifth session is scheduled to take place October  4-8, 2010 at the Radisson New Orleans Airport Hotel, 2150 Veterans Blvd., Kenner, La.  A media advisory with pooling information will be sent out a week before the session commences and this information will also be made available on the Deepwater Investigation Web site.

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HOUSTON – Pictured is a photograph of a recovered piece of the riser pipe cut from the Deepwater Horizon used during the fourth round of the joint investigation board hearing, August 26, 2010. The Coast Guard and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulations and Enforcement are co-chairing the joint investigation launched to determine the cause of the initial incident and fire aboard the mobile offshore drilling unit (MODU) Deepwater Horizon. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2^nd Class Prentice Danner.