Michael Bierne testified at the U.S. Coast Guard and Bureau of Energy Management joint investigation of the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. He told federal investigators that it was not uncommon for oil exploration to go over budget and that the Macondo well was 61% over budget when it exploded.
This hearing was the third day of the fifth session of hearings of the Deepwater Horizon joint investigation.