Last night, a natural gas well off the coast caught fire, prompting the evacuation of the crew on the platform. Although government officials and the company that operates the well are actively trying to stop the leak, they are saying that this leak is not even close to the size of the BP spill that spilled millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.
Although it might not appear to be as dangerous at first, there was a fire, that posed a risk to the crew operating the well. The cause of the loss of control of the well isn’t yet known, but an investigation will likely be conducted.
Many times, oil and natural gas leaks are extremely dangerous and can pose a threat to lives if people aren’t warned soon enough or the leak isn’t capped promptly. If someone is injured in a gas leak or oil drilling accident of any kind, they might be wise to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney.
Although the oil and natural gas industry poses dangers in certain roles that are not as common in other industries, it is still important that proper safety procedures are being followed and people are protected from known hazards.
When someone is injured, they might be forced to miss work while they recover, and need to pay for costly medical expenses. It is important that people protect their rights if they are injured in an oil or natural gas industry accident. An experienced attorney can help a person seek compensation and understand their rights.
Source: LA Times, “Natural gas rig blows out, is on fire off Louisiana coast,” Molly Hennessy-Fiske, July 24, 2013