"METAIRIE, La. -- Federal investigators will be looking for key information about pressure tests, decision making and BP's safety culture when the next round of hearings begins Monday to determine the cause of the Gulf of Mexico rig explosion and oil spill.

The weeklong hearings near New Orleans will be the fifth series held by the joint U.S. Coast Guard-Bureau of Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement investigative panel.

Besides figuring out a cause, the panel is examining how safety and oversight can be improved.

At least one more series of hearings is expected before the panel members begin collaborating on their report."

Harry R. Weber reports for the Associated Press October 4, 2010. [2]