What Causes Well Blowout Accidents?

North Dakota’s economy relies on the oil and gas industry. A recent study showed that the industry supplied more than 30,000 jobs. Workers in the Bakken region are in high demand, but oil work is a notoriously dangerous profession. One of the most destructive incidents that can happen at a drilling site is a well blowout.

Well blowouts occur when pressure inside an oil or gas well becomes uncontrolled and oil, gas, or other fluids “blow out” from the wellbore. The results can be devastating. Fires, explosions, and the release of toxic fumes and chemicals are just a few of the results of well blowouts. These events lead to serious injuries and fatalities.

Let’s explore the common causes of well blowout accidents and how injured workers can get the compensation they need to pay for their medical bills and ongoing care.

Understanding well blowouts

An imbalance of pressure in a well can lead to a blowout. The operation of oil and gas wells involves extreme pressure, which must be meticulously balanced for the well to be stable. When balance is lost, oil and gas can flow uncontrollably.

Blowouts aren’t limited to drilling only. They can happen during the completion of a well, a rework of the well, or during routine, day-to-day operations. The effects of a blowout can endanger people in the immediate vicinity of the well and extend to the surrounding environment. Some circumstances that increase well blowout risks include:

1. Failure to control underground pressure

Understandably, improper pressure management is one of the most common causes of well blowouts. Drilling fluid, also called “mud,” is used to counterbalance the underground pressure in the well. Mud has to be the right consistency and circulated correctly to work. Otherwise, pressure can build in the well and force oil and gas upward.

In North Dakota oil fields, the pressure can change rapidly due to changes in the geology where the well is located. If these changes are not carefully monitored and responded to, the pressure in the well becomes dangerous.

2. Defective blowout preventers

Blowout preventers are safety devices that are designed to seal off the well if a spike in pressure is detected. Unfortunately, these systems sometimes fail. Improper installation, manufacturer defects, and failing to maintain the blowout preventer can lead to a malfunction, which results in a blowout. Outdated equipment with faulty sensors may be relied upon to test the blowout preventers, resulting in a malfunction in an emergency.

3. Improper well design or faulty casings

It’s important for the well’s design and casing systems to be strong enough to contain the pressure that builds inside the well. The casings and design should support different pressure zones underground, where pressure can essentially be relocated. If the design or casings are insufficient, pressure can escape in places that make the well unstable.

In North Dakota’s high-production oil fields, shortcuts in oil well design can increase the risk of an accident over time.

4. Human error

Oil field work is arduous, requiring long hours and intensive training. Much of the training for well-related work is “on-the-job.” Human error plays a role in well blowouts, especially when workers haven’t been properly trained or are working on limited sleep. Seemingly small mistakes, like misreading pressure data or skipping a safety check, can have disastrous results. Supervisors must be able to make high-pressure, high-risk decisions quickly.

5. Equipment failure

While the casings and blowout preventers are important structures for preventing blowouts, other equipment failures may also lead to these types of accidents. A failure in a valve, pipe, or pressure monitoring system can have a trickle-down effect that leads to a well blowout accident. Failing to check this equipment can lead to faulty parts.

6. Poor communication and coordination

In North Dakota, it’s common for multiple contractors to work on the same drilling site. These contractors may not communicate with one another as they should. Clear and concise communication between crews is paramount. When communication breaks down, information about pressure changes, equipment issues, or operating systems can be missed. A lack of coordination can delay responses to warning signs that dangerous pressure issues are imminent.

7. Regulatory violations

North Dakota oil and gas operations must abide by state and federal laws and safety regulations. When a company cuts corners to save time or money, it could ignore safety protocols, which could prevent blowouts from happening.

Violations like inadequate testing, missing documentation, or failing to follow specified drilling procedures can increase the risk of an accident.

Injuries associated with well blowout accidents

Well blowouts can cause catastrophic, life-altering injuries and even fatalities. Workers can suffer burns from explosions and fires, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from flying debris, crush injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, and exposure to toxic chemicals. Even workers who escape with no physical injuries may have emotional and psychological trauma or respiratory problems.

Injuries from a well blowout often require intensive medical treatment and ongoing therapies. In some cases, injuries require lifelong care, adjustments, and missed work. This financial burden can be taxing and stressful for workers and their families.

How injured oil field workers may seek compensation

After a well blowout accident in North Dakota, an injured worker may have more than one way to seek compensation.

• Workers’ compensation. Workers’ compensation benefits cover most oil field workers in North Dakota. These benefits provide compensation for medical treatment and partial wages when an injured person has to miss work. Workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering, and may not be sufficient to cover the long-term impact of a serious injury.

• Third-party injury claims. In many oil and gas well blowouts, responsibility extends beyond the injured worker’s employer. Equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, site operators, or other third parties may have contributed to the accident. Identifying a third party often involves a detailed investigation into how the blowout occurred, what safety measures failed, and who was in control of the equipment and operations at the time of the accident.

When you’re injured, you need time to focus on recovery. It can be overwhelming to handle the claims process alone. Having legal guidance is a smart choice in identifying all the parties involved and helping the claims process go as smoothly as possible.

Contact a North Dakota well blowout lawyer

An experienced North Dakota oil field injury attorney can help you with your workers’ compensation claim or a third-party lawsuit. The team at Larson Law Injury & Accident Lawyers works with injured oil field workers to help them pursue all possible avenues of compensation. With offices in Bismarck, Minot, and Fargo, we serve a large area of the state. Learn more about your legal options by contacting us today.