On April 30, 2014, two men were killed after a pressure explosion at a drill site, in Orla, Texas. It is estimated that approximately 9 people were injured in the explosion. The cause of the accident was attributed to a pressure line build up which caused an explosion. The company that was operating the site is RKI Exploration and Production, LLC. RKI is located in Oklahoma City but was operating on the site and has an office in Carlsbad.
The explosion had a strong impact and shattered window shields and deployed air bags of several vehicles on the scene. Several residents reported that they could feel the impact of the explosion on the ground. Given the severity of the explosion, it is anticipated that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will investigate.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. As the competition to drill for oil continues, there are mounting concerns regarding the safety of workers on oil rigs. The U.S. government recently reported that between 2001 and 2010, there were 69 documented offshore deaths, 1,349 injuries and 858 fires and explosions on rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Causes of Oil Rig Explosions
There are a variety of reasons why oil rig injuries occur, however, a recent study entitled “Work Related Diseases and Injuries on an Oil rig” in the International Maritime Health Journal conducted an analysis of diseases and injuries of the workers on an American oil rig operating in the Mediterranean sea. Over the course of one year, they found that the main causes of injuries on the oil rig were:
If you or a family member was injured on an oil rig, please contact our law firm. We have extensive experience with oil rig injuries. Most recently, we were involved in the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. We will provide a free case evaluation. We handle all cases on a contingency basis, meaning that we don’t get paid unless we win or settle.
Oil Rig Injury Lawyers
Our experience inside the Courtroom has garnered several awards, including induction into the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Million Dollar Advocates Forum and SuperLawyers by Texas Monthly Magazine. Please contact us for more information on oil rig injuries.
