From Lorraine Chow, EcoWatch.com, January 25, 2018

The drilling company involved in Monday’s natural gas rig explosion in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma that killed five workers has a long record of deadly accidents and numerous safety violations.

Ten workers have died within the past ten years at well sites linked to Houston-based Patterson-UTI Energy, the Associated Press reported, citing data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The accidents occurred at drilling sites in Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Texas.

Patterson-UTI has also been fined nearly $367,000 in the last decade for more than 140 safety violations, including many serious ones.

According to the AP:

“A 2008 report from a U.S. Senate committee described Patterson-UTI as one of the nation’s worst violators of workplace safety laws. The report devoted an entire section to the company and 13 employees who died in Texas rig accidents over a nearly four-year period.

“A separate AP analysis published in 2008 showed at least 20 Patterson-UTI employees died on the job between 2002 and 2007. No other oil and gas company had more than five fatal accidents during that span.”

The rig explosion this week appears to be the deadliest since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico claimed the lives of 11 men.

“Patterson-UTI has embraced a culture of continuous improvement in safety, training and operations,” the company responded to the AP about its safety record. “In recent years, we have invested millions of dollars on training and protective equipment and worked to instill a company-wide culture where safety is the top priority of each employee.”

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the explosion near the town of Quinton. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board will also consider launching a larger investigation.

An initial report indicates an uncontrolled gas release led to the blast. A worker at the scene tried unsuccessfully to shut the well down.

“There is nothing more important to us than the safety of our employees and others we partner with in the field. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected and their loved ones,” the company said in a statement after the explosion.

“We are actively investigating the cause of the tragedy so that we can learn from it and protect against it happening again.”

Source: https://www.ecowatch.com/oklahoma-rig-explosion-2528582237.html

From OK Energy Today, http://www.OkEnergyToday.com, November 29, 2017

The oilfield accident that killed a 36-year old worker on Tuesday in Blaine county remains under investigation by the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office.

Undersheriff David Robertson indicated it happened at a Devon Energy well site located along County Road 2520 and a quarter mile south of County Road 840 west of Watonga.

It occurred as crews were fracking a well and reports indicated a fitting failed in the first phase and struck a worker in the chest. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released. The first phase was just underway and hit 2,400 pounds of pressure when the fitting failed and debris hit two workers. Both were rushed to a hospital.

The Sheriff’s office indicated another worker was injured and both men were employees of Universal Pressure Pumping, a firm headquartered in Texas but with an office in El Reno. The company has been in operation for more than 30 years and describes itself as a “premier source for hydraulic fracturing, cementing, nitrogen and acidizing services for reservoir enhancement.

The company says it provides well services primarily in Texas and the Mid-Continent and Appalachian regions.

“Devon is coordinating with its contractor and the appropriate government authorities in investigating the incident,” said John Porretto, director of corporate communications for Devon Energy. “Devon wishes to extend its sincere condolences to the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time.”

Source: http://www.okenergytoday.com/2017/11/oilfield-worker-killed-in-fracking-accident-in-blaine-county/