Chesapeake Energy's refusal to take precautions to control the pressure of one of its natural gas wells in Grand Cane led to a blowout in November that killed one man and seriously injured another, the men's relatives claim in a lawsuit filed in a Texas federal court.
Killed in the Nov. 18 accident was James Dennis, 58, of Bullard, Texas. Critically injured was co-worker Jimmy Siler, 30, also of Bullard. Both were employed with Dynasty Transportation LLC, of Broussard, which provides truck transportation for the oil and gas industry.
In addition to the death and injury, the blowout sent approximately 15 families away from their homes for two days. Several DeSoto Fire District 8 firefighters were treated and released for respiratory problems after rescuing Dennis and Siler from the well location on George Hunt Road.
Dennis' wife, Barbara Dennis, along with two daughters, Jill and Lauren, and Siler named Chesapeake as the defendant in the personal injury and wrongful death petition filed last month in the Eastern District of Texas. They seek unspecified damages and a jury trial.
"It is not our policy to comment on pending litigation," said J. Kevin McCotter, Chesapeake's senior director of corporate development.
The lawsuit alleges Dennis and Siler were working as crane truck operators at the well site along with contractors Innovative Wellsite Systems Inc. and JetBlast. Innovative employees were directed by Chesapeake to change out the pins on the wellhead.
Dennis and Siler hooked the crane truck to the equipment at the wellhead to allow Innovative workers to change the pins, "when suddenly a violent explosion occurred and the wellhead blew out," the lawsuit states.
Dennis and Siler were in the path of the blowout. Both suffered broken bones and critical injuries. Dennis died at the scene.
"Prior to beginning the work, Innovative employees spoke with the Chesapeake company man on location and requested Chesapeake to 'kill the well' by placing a down hole packer because of the high pressure on the well," according to the lawsuit. "Chesapeake refused to take the time to do so and wanted Innovative to continue the work with the lubricator which was set. A down hole packer would have kept the pressure of the well down hole and away from the wellhead where the work was being performed. Chesapeake's refusal to set the packer allowed the pressure to stay near the wellhead, and thus allowed the wellhead to blow through one of the pins being set by Innovative."
The plaintiffs claim Dennis' death and Siler's injury occurred because Chesapeake did not take steps to control the gas in the well by "holding it down hole."
References also are made in the document to other blowouts at Chesapeake well sites in the Haynesville Shale region, particularly in DeSoto Parish. Four men have died in rig-related accidents since the shale play hit the region two years ago.
Buck
