Investigation Update for Deepwater Horizon Explosion

The investigation continues into what caused the Deepwater Horizon explosion on April 21, 2010, killing 11 maritime workers and sending millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf. There are key questions being asked as to what caused this fatal and ecological disaster.

The first question deals with what caused the primary well to fail. Investigators are trying to determine whether the incident was caused by a poor well design. Other potential causes include the casing to the well, the cement around the well and the well head hanger seal assembly.

Either one of these issues or a combination could have been responsible for the accident. However, it is important to note the exact cause, as it has yet to be determined.

Investigators also want to know why the secondary well control was unable to stop the flow of well fluids. The blowout preventer is designed to stop the flow of well fluids in the event the primary well fails.

Function tests on the blowout preventer were required every seven days while pressure tests were required every 14 days. The last function test for the Deepwater Horizon took place on April 17 and the last pressure test occurred on April 20, one day before the catastrophe.