What Causes Oil Rig Explosions in Texas? (September Update)

Learn Why Offshore Oil Rigs Explode from the Lawyers at Oberheiden Law Group

Attorney Nick Oberheiden
Oil Rig Explosion Lawyers Team Lead
Founding Attorney

Oil rig explosions are extraordinarily dangerous accidents that can leave oil and gas workers and other crew members with serious injuries. Tragically, these accidents also prove fatal in many cases. When offshore oil rigs explode, oil rig workers and their families deserve to be fully compensated, and the oil and gas industry companies that are responsible for these catastrophic accidents deserve to be held fully accountable.

Seeking accountability for an oil rig explosion starts with determining why the explosion occurred. This requires an in-depth investigation focused on the oil rig’s pressure control systems, safety equipment and safety systems, regular maintenance schedule, and other potential causal factors. If the explosion occurred in hazardous conditions, the investigation will need to take these conditions into account as well. As a result, experienced legal representation is required, and platform workers and family members who need to take legal action should engage a qualified Texas law firm as soon as possible.

The Leading Causes of Oil Rig Explosions

Numerous issues can cause explosions on oil rigs. These range from oil line breaks and pressurized gas leaks to drilling companies’ decisions to prioritize their profits over their crew members’ safety. Rig capsizing and other catastrophic failures (i.e., if a blowout preventer failed) can lead to oil rig explosions as well.

With that said, some causes are more common than others. For example, some of the leading causes of offshore oil rig explosions and other full-blown disasters at sea include:

Defective Equipment and Heavy Machinery

Defective equipment and heavy machinery are potential hazards that can lead to sudden and unexpected explosions and other catastrophic oil rig accidents. For example, defects that cause equipment or heavy machinery on an oil rig to overheat can cause combustible materials, flammable materials, and other hazardous substances to catch fire or explode—and this can potentially set off a chain reaction of catastrophic events that put the entire oil rig and its entire crew in jeopardy.

Malfunctioning Pressure Control Systems

Malfunctioning pressure control systems can cause (or contribute to causing) oil rig explosions and other offshore oil rig accidents as well. If any component of an oil rig’s system for controlling the pressure of crude oil or natural gas when drilling mud, such as a blowout preventer, fails unexpectedly, this is another type of equipment failure that can put oil rig workers and other crew members at risk of suffering traumatic brain injuries and other serious injuries with life-altering or life-threatening consequences.

Inadequate Maintenance and Inspections

When it comes to what causes oil rig explosions, inadequate maintenance and inspections are common factors as well. Oil and gas workers must be able to rely on their employers to conduct routine maintenance and properly maintain all equipment on an ongoing basis. Texas rig workers must also be able to rely on their employers to ensure that safety measures are being strictly followed. Failure to conduct routine maintenance and failure to identify safety protocol violations during inspections are both common causes of oil rig accidents that could—and should—be prevented.

Inadequate Safety Systems and Failure to Follow Proper Safety Protocols

Inadequate safety systems and failure to follow proper safety protocols are common—and preventable—causes of oil rig accidents as well. Companies in the oil and gas industry must strictly follow all applicable Texas safety regulations and adhere to strict safety procedures at all times. They must also ensure that their employees have access to adequate safety equipment and that their safety equipment is in good working order. If they don’t, and if oil workers suffer serious or fatal injuries as a result, they can be held accountable through the legal system.

Inadequate Construction for Extreme Weather Conditions

Extreme weather conditions can expose the vulnerabilities created by faulty equipment, equipment failures, inadequate safety equipment, and other similar types of issues. Oil rigs often experience extreme weather conditions, and they need to be built and equipped to withstand these conditions on an ongoing basis. Inadequate construction and other similar types of issues can lead to explosions and other oil rig accidents during extreme conditions that prevent the Coast Guard and other rescue personnel from rendering assistance.

Offshore Drilling Accidents Resulting from Blowout Preventer and Other Equipment Failures

Blowout preventer failures, safety valve failures, drill pipe failures, and other equipment failures on offshore oil rigs can lead to offshore drilling accidents—including catastrophic explosions—as well. As discussed above, regular maintenance and inspections are critical for preventing equipment failures that put everyone working on an oil rig at risk. While oil rigs rely on numerous types of complicated equipment to extract oil from the seabed, the complexity of offshore drilling operations is not an excuse for maritime accidents that put workers’ lives in jeopardy.

Major Accidents Resulting from Human Error

Unfortunately, human error is a common cause of oil rig explosions, oil spills, and other maritime accidents as well. Types of human error that can lead to serious and fatal maritime accidents range from failing to identify issues with faulty equipment to failure to follow critical safety protocols. In many cases, when human error leads to a serious or fatal accident, it is ultimately the oil rig operator’s failure to provide proper training that is to blame.

Case Study: The Deepwater Horizon Explosion

While there have been several oil rig explosions over the past couple of decades, the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion in 2010 remains one of the most well-known and most-studied maritime accidents in recent history. Investigators ultimately concluded that multiple failures contributed to the explosion, including the failure of the rig’s blowout preventer. BP and its insurance company faced billions of dollars in liability as a result of the explosion, including liability for personal injury and wrongful death claims related to workers’ injuries and deaths.

FAQs: Hiring a Texas Law Firm to File an Oil Rig Explosion Lawsuit

Can Rig Workers and Families File Lawsuits for Oil Rig Explosions?

Yes, rig workers and their families can file lawsuits for oil rig explosions in many cases. With that said, the key to filing a lawsuit is determining—and being able to prove—why the explosion happened. From equipment failures to inadequate safety equipment and failure to provide proper training, there are numerous potential causes of oil rig explosions, and proving the specific cause of a particular explosion requires a prompt and thorough investigation.

How Does the Jones Act Apply to Oil Rig Explosions?

The Jones Act, formally known as the Merchant Marine Act, allows offshore oil rig workers and their families to hold companies in the oil and gas industry accountable for rig explosions and other major accidents. If you are entitled to financial compensation for injuries or a loved one’s death resulting from an offshore rig explosion, recovering this compensation will most likely involve filing a lawsuit under the Jones Act. The Jones Act allows victims and families to file personal injury and wrongful death claims when the state laws that govern accidents on land don’t apply.

How Can Workers and Families Prove the Cause of an Oil Rig Explosion?

Proving the cause of an oil rig explosion is a complex process. It involves not only conducting a thorough investigation of the rig itself, but also obtaining internal records, conducting depositions, and gathering evidence through a variety of other means. As a result, experienced legal representation is essential.

What Losses Can Workers and Their Families Recover in Oil Rig Explosion Lawsuits?

In oil rig explosion cases, workers and their families can seek to recover just compensation for all of the financial and non-financial losses resulting from their (or their loved one’s) accident. This includes the costs of emergency medical attention, medical bills for additional treatment on land, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and various other financial and non-financial losses. When you hire our lawyers to represent you, we will provide a comprehensive assessment of the losses you are entitled to recover.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Prove the Cause of an Oil Rig Explosion?

Whether you are dealing with chemical burns, a traumatic brain injury, another catastrophic injury, or the tragic loss of a loved one, hiring a lawyer to prove the cause of an oil rig explosion costs you nothing out-of-pocket. At Oberheiden Law Group, we handle all personal injury and wrongful death cases involving oil rig explosions on a contingency-fee basis. This means that we do not charge any out-of-pocket costs or fees, and we only get paid if we help our clients recover financial compensation.

We Provide Experienced Legal Representation for Victims of Texas Explosions and Other Oil Rig Accidents

Do you need to know more about the process of proving the cause of an oil rig explosion or seeking just compensation for your (or your family’s) losses? If so, we encourage you to contact us right away so that we can help you. To speak with an experienced lawyer at Oberheiden Law Group about your case in confidence as soon as possible, call us at 888-680-1745 or request a free consultation online now.

Further Information About Oil Rig Explosion Lawsuit

Disclaimer:
The content on this site is informational only and describes mere allegations. The content does not suggest evidence, proof, or guaranteed liability. The merits of each case depend on specific facts. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes in future cases. For more details, please see our FTC and general disclaimers. Oberheiden Law is the law firm in charge.