105,313Records 71,083Employers 85,290Hospitalizations 27,770Amputations 2015-01-01 2025-10-31
Safety Incidents OSHA Severe Injury Reports · 2015–2025

OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #691923

BURN,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,FIRE,NATURAL GAS,EXPLOSION,GAS LEAK,OIL WELL SERVICING,SPARK

Event
BURN,FLAMMABLE VAPORS,WORK RULES,FIRE,NATURAL GAS,EXPLOSION,GAS LEAK,OIL WELL SERVICING,SPARK
Linked inspection
No inspection record linked to this accident's victims.
Summary number
691923
Report ID
854910

Event description

Four employees burned in methane gas explosion

Investigation abstract

At 4:00 p.m. on November 11, 1986, while Employees #1 through #4 were circulatin g and repainting equipment on a well, a gas kick developed. Because of the late hour in the day, the well was shut at 7:00 a.m. on November 12, 1986. Water was circulated down and the gas was circulated out, apparently dissipating into the atmosphere. The circulation pump was shut off and the employees then prepared to return to work on the down hole problems. As an employee started a pickup truck , accumulated well gas (methane) exploded, burning all four employees on the sit e, three critically and one seriously.

Victims (4)

  1. #1 Hospitalized Age 26 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    2
    Event type
    14
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    614
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1
  2. #2 Hospitalized Age 27 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    14
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    614
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1
  3. #3 Hospitalized Age 22 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    4
    Event type
    14
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    614
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1
  4. #4 Hospitalized Age 28 M

    Nature of injury
    5
    Part of body
    13
    Event type
    14
    Source
    35
    Occupation code
    614
    Human factor
    1
    Environmental factor
    7
    Hazardous substance
    1640
    Task assigned
    1

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