Texas oil well explosion kills three, injures one
03 February 2020
An explosion at an oil well killed three contractors and inured one person in the US on January 29. One of the workers died at the scene while two others died in hospital in the following days having suffered severe burns.
Representative image: Shutterstock
The well, owned by Chesapeake Energy Corporation, is located in Burleson County, around 100 miles (160km) northwest of Houston. According to Chesapeake Energy, workover operations and maintenance were being conducted on the well when the blast occurred.
One contractor remains in hospital receiving treatment after being airlifted in the aftermath of the blast. Air monitoring equipment was installed once the fire had been put out, however local authorities said there was no risk to the public.
The well blowout occurred around 15:30 on January 29 causing a fire to erupt which burnt through the night until firefighters were able to put it out the following day.
Following the blast, the family of one of the deceased opened a wrongful death lawsuit seeking around $1 million from Chesapeake Energy, Forbes Energy Services, Eagle Pressure Control and Halliburton Co.