Undefeated Oklahoma Oilfield Accident Lawyer
Officials in Oklahoma are trying to determine what caused an oil rig to explode yesterday afternoon in Grady County, injuring four oilfield workers.
Oklahoma Oil Rig Exploded During Workover Operation
The July 8th explosion erupted at approximately 4:39 P.M. at a well site owned by Oklahoma City-based Red Rock Oil & Gas, located near County Street 2990 and Boundary Street on the outskirts of Bradley. According to media reports, a crew was performing workover duties on the wellhead when the rig burst into flames.
Ten separate agencies responded to the Rock Oil & Gas rig explosion. Shortly after the initial fire was extinguished, heat from equipment caused another blaze to erupt at the site. Once firefighters brought those flames under control, they moved back to allow the fire to burn out, a process that’s that’s likely to take several days.
Red Rock Oil & Gas Rig Explosion Victims Severely Burned
Four oilfield workers were taken to a hospital in Lindsay following the Oklahoma oil rig explosion, including three who suffered severe burns. The fourth worker declined treatment.
While authorities in Grady County have not identified any of the injured workers, they have confirmed that all four are Red Rock employees.
The Red Rock Oil & Gas rig explosion remains under investigation. Fire crews will continue to monitor the site for several days, as there is still a risk that the rig will fall over, causing additional damage and placing even more lives at risk.
Dangers of Workover Rig Operations
Workover operations like the one at the center of the Oklahoma oil rig explosion are critical to ensuring a well is properly maintained and in good repair. Scenarios in which a workover operation is necessary include:
- Casing Repairs: Any leak in a well’s casing could result in a catastrophic well blowout.
- Wellbore Cleaning: Workouts are often performed to clear a wellbore of scale deposits, paraffin buildup, and sand accumulation.
- Pump Changeouts: This procedure replaces a worn or malfunctioning downhole pump.
- Tubing Changeouts: Corrosion of the tubing that carries fluids up a well reduces the flow of oil, inhibiting production and creating a safety hazard.
- Artificial Lift Installations: When natural pressure is inadequate to bring oil and gas up from a deep reservoir, a workover operation may be necessary to install artificial lift systems to facilitate extraction.
- Well Abandonment: Workover operations are necessary to ensure a well is safely shut in once it is no longer productive.
Wokover operations are complicated, as they typically require the simultaneous participation of multiple service providers and the use of workover rigs and other complex equipment. It’s critical that oilfield companies plan meticulously and prioritize the safety of their workers ahead of any workover. They must also adhere to specific federal safety regulations, both in the course of normal drilling operations and during all workover activities, including:
- Supply workover crews with appropriate personal protective equipment
- Use color codes, labels, posters, and signage to alert workers to potentially hazardous conditions.
- Train workers in a language they understand.
- Install shutdown systems, intake flame arrestors, and exhaust spark arrests on equipment and machinery.
- Conduct Risk Analysis (RA), Hazard Analysis (HA), or Job Safety Analysis (JSA) before performing welding or other hot work.
- Install blowout preventers and associated valves at the top of the well-casing head before drilling and after rigging to ensure well control is maintained.
- Properly label and store all hazardous materials.
Contact our Undefeated Oilfield Explosion Lawyers for a Free Consultation at 1-888-603-3636
With Billions won, including the #1 Largest Oilfield Injury Settlement in U.S. History and #1 Largest Burn Injury Settlement in History on behalf of an oilfield worker severely burned in a workover rig explosion, our Undefeated Oilfield Accident Lawyers have proven time and again that they have the resources, knowledge, and experience to take on the largest oil and gas companies in the world and win.
If you or someone you love were hurt in the Red Rock Oil & Gas rig explosion, our Oklahoma oilfield accident lawyers are ready to help. Please call 1-888-603-3636 or use our contact form to send us a confidential email.
We’ll take the necessary time to answer your questions, explain your rights, and provide the information you need to make the best decision for your family.
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