Two workers were injured on Monday, when an explosion ignited a fire at an oilfield near Wewoka, Oklahoma.
The incident occurred around 4:00 p.m. on April 2nd, during the installation of an oil and gas pumping unit at a site near U.S. 270 and State Highway 56 in Seminole County.
Motor Backfired and Ignited Natural Gas
According to various media reports, the explosion occurred after a motor backfired and ignited natural gas.
Much of the rig was burned in the resulting fire. While firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control, the rig continued to burn into Tuesday afternoon.
1 Injured Worker Listed in Serious Condition
Two unidentified workers were transferred to area hospitals, including one man who had to be airlifted from the site. He is listed in serious condition.
The second worker suffered only minor injuries.
Local authorities have identified Lance Ruffle as the operator of the site. Seminole-based Mills Well Service is listed as the well servicer.
The explosion remains under investigation.
Explosion at Quinton, Oklahoma Oilfield Tragically Killed 5 in January
Wewoka is only about 80 miles from Quinton, Oklahoma, where an explosion at a drilling site operated by Oklahoma City-based Red Mountain Operating tragically killed five men in January.
Three of the deceased worked for Houston, Texas-based Patterson-UTI Energy, the rig’s owner, while two were employed by other contractors.
All five men were reported missing shortly after the January 22nd blast, but the resulting fire prevented responders from recovering their bodies until the following afternoon.
A preliminary report released by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission indicated that an uncontrolled release of natural gas caused the fire. An equipment failure prevented workers from activating the well’s blowout preventer.
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