Explosions in Texas at Disposal & Oil Well Sites Leave Men with Burn Injuries

Michael S. Callahan | | Drilling Accidents

Two explosions in Texas in as many days, one at a salt water disposal site and one at an oil well site, left men suffering burn injuries. The two men were hospitalized and investigations into the causes of the explosions are underway. The first explosion occurred Monday morning, October 7, at a salt water disposal site in West Texas, just south of the Ector-Crane County line. Salt water is a byproduct of oil and gas production. According to news reports, including KWTX, one man suffered significant burns to his face and hands in Monday’s explosion involving two 500-barrel tanks. Most of the fire was out by the time fire crews arrived at the scene, but firefighters remained at the site until it was completely out about an hour later. Early the next morning another explosion occurred, this time at a South Texas oil well site in a rural area near Gillett, about 50 miles southeast of San Antonio. An injured man was flown to a hospital in San Antonio. Authorities closed part of Highway 80 as a precaution after the fiery South Texas oil well site explosion happened just before 5 a.m. Oct. 8. According to news reports, the Karnes County Sheriff’s Office said batteries, salt water containers and diesel tanks apparently exploded. The fire died down after several hours, but fire crews remained on the scene to monitor the site.