Federal Agencies Launch Investigations into Rig Explosion, Fire

"The US government made its first major moves on Apr. 27 in response to the Apr. 20 explosion and fire on the Transocean Ltd. Deepwater Horizon semisubmersible rig in the Gulf of Mexico as the Departments of Interior and Homeland Security launched a joint investigation. ...

DOI Secretary Ken Salazar and DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano outlined the next steps in the investigation already under way by DOI’s US Minerals Management Service and the US Coast Guard, which share jurisdiction. They signed orders that formally convene the joint investigation and outline each agency’s roles and responsibilities related to its expertise. ...

They said the joint investigation will have the power to issue subpoenas, hold public hearings, call witnesses, and take other necessary steps to determine what caused an explosion and fire that left 11 workers missing and presumed dead, 3 critically injured, and an ongoing crude oil spill that the responsible party, BP Exploration & Production, and federal agencies are working to contain and clean up.

Salazar and Napolitano said they were scheduled to meet later in the day with Carol M. Browner, Obama’s special coordinator for energy, environmental, and global climate change policy; White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett; USCG Commandant Admiral Thad Allen; Deputy Interior Secretary David J. Hayes, and senior executives from BP, including Chief Executive Tony Hayward and BP America Inc. Pres. LaMar McKay."

Nick Snow reports for Oil & Gas Journal April 27, 2010.