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I. Introduction

A. The Investigation

On April 27, 2010, the Secretaries of the Department of Homeland Security
and the Department of the Interior convened a joint investigation of “the
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explosion and sinking of the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon” by
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
(“BOEMRE”) and the United States Coast Guard (“USCG”). The Convening
Order directed the Joint Investigation Team (“JIT”) to issue a joint report within
nine months. This deadline was extended to allow the JIT to complete the
investigation.

On April 29, 2010, an MMS Associate Director appointed the MMS (now
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BOEMRE) members of the JIT. This Report is based on the investigative record
developed by the JIT and contains the Panel’s findings and conclusions.
BOEMRE’s Investigations and Review Unit (“IRU”), in close coordination with
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the Panel, had a substantial role in the drafting and preparation of the Report.

The Convening Order provides that relevant statutes and regulations
relating to both the USCG and BOEMRE govern the JIT and that the JIT’s public
hearings be conducted in accordance with the USCG’s rules and procedures
relating to Marine Boards of Investigation. Under these rules, the JIT was
required to formally designate certain companies and individuals involved with
the Deepwater Horizon operation at the time of the blowout as “parties in interest”
(“PIIs”) and also retained the authority to designate other PIIs at its discretion.
The JIT designated the following entities and individuals as PIIs: BP, Transocean,
Halliburton, MI‐SWACO, Weatherford, Anadarko Petroleum, MOEX USA Corp.,
Dril‐Quip, Jimmy Harrell (Transocean), Curt Kuchta (Transocean), Douglas
Harold Brown (Transocean), Steve Bertone (Transocean), Mike Williams

2 Joint Department of the Interior and Department of Homeland Security Statement of Principles
and Convening Order Regarding Investigation into the Marine Casualty, Explosion, Fire,
Pollution, and Sinking of Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Deepwater Horizon, with Loss of Life in
the Gulf of Mexico, April 21‐22, 2010 (the “Convening Order”). By order of the Secretary of the
Interior, dated June 18, 2010, BOEMRE replaced the former Minerals Management Service
(“MMS”) as the United States’ offshore resource manager and safety authority.
3 Panel members included David Dykes (co‐chair), Glynn Breaux, John McCarroll, Kirk
Malstrom, and Jason Mathews.
4 IRU members included Michael Farber, Lisa Scanlon, and Kishan Nair.

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