Oilfield accident law firms understand that the energy industry is a cornerstone of Texas’s economy, but that it comes with significant risks. This blog post delves into the statistical landscape of injuries and fatalities sustained from oilfield accidents within the state, compares these figures with national statistics, and explores key areas where the oil and gas industry plays a significant role. Additionally, we focus on why having a dedicated oilfield accident law firm can make a substantial difference in your case.

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Oilfield Injuries Across the Nation

Oil and gas extraction is one of the most dangerous industries in the United States. According to the global data provider Statista, the rate of job-related injuries and illnesses for U.S. oil and gas extraction in 2022 was 1.8 per 100 workers, a sharp increase from just two years before.

Understanding Oilfield Accidents in Texas and Beyond: Key Statistics and Risks

According to the U.S. Census and the Texas Workforce Commission, roughly 480,000 Texans worked in the oil and gas industry over the course of 2022. The rate of the state’s nonfatal oil and gas injuries ran below the national average that year, but the same isn’t true when it came to deaths. Texas oil and gas workers are far more likely to die in work-related accidents than laborers from other states.

  • Nonfatal Oil and Gas Injuries: Nationwide data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that 1.3 oil and gas workers suffered nonfatal illnesses and injuries for every 100 of the industry’s employees during 2022. The Texas rate was lower that year, at .8 incidents for every 100 workers.
  • Oil and Gas Fatalities: In 2022, there were a total of 83 fatalities in the United States related to the oil and gas extraction industry—but Texas accounted for an astounding 49% of those deaths.

The Dangers Oilfield Workers Face in Texas

Location of 2022 Oil and Gas Accident
Number of Fatalities
Percentage of Total
Texas
41
49%
All Other States Combined
42
51%

Texas Communities Prone to Oilfield Accidents

Texas is home to a multitude of oil and gas deposits, and the energy industry plays a role in virtually every region of the state. Oilfield accidents can occur in communities across Texas, and both workers and residents need to understand what any good oilfield accident law firm knows: That this is one of the most hazardous lines of business in the Lone Star State.

Some of the Most Hazardous Oilfields in Texas

East Texas

At 140,000 acres, the East Texas Oil Field is the nation’s second-largest oil-producing area outside of the State of Alaska, producing nearly 5.4 billion barrels of oil as of 2017. The region is home to numerous communities where the industry plays a vital role, maintains substantial infrastructure, employs large numbers of people, and continues to drill for oil and gas deposits. Key areas include:

Southeast Texas

Southeast Texas surrounds Houston, home to the largest port in the nation—along with refineries that process nearly half the state’s oil and just under 15% of the world’s. The region is also where you’ll find the Humble Oilfield, at one time the most productive in the state and the birthplace of The Humble Oil and Refining Company, now known as ExxonMobil. And the Sour Lake Oilfield, near a community that bears its name, is the oldest continuously producing oil region in the world.

  • Houston: Known as “the energy capital of the world,” Houston is home to 4,600 energy-related organizations, including more than 500 oil-and-gas exploration firms and nearly 1,000 oilfield-service and pipeline companies. Almost 250,000 Houstonians are employed by the industry. Not surprisingly, the greater Houston area has witnessed its share of major oil-and-gas accidents. In 2023, oil at a chemical facility in the nearby town of Deer Park ignited, sending nine workers to the hospital and a plume of smoke that could be seen for miles. Four years earlier, a pair of fireballs erupted at an ITC plant in the same community, igniting fires that burned for nearly a week, releasing clouds of toxic benzene into the air, and eventually closing the entire Houston Ship Channel.  And then there was BP’s 2005 Texas City refinery explosion, a catastrophe that killed or injured nearly 200 people and proved to be the costliest accident of its type in history.
  • Beaumont: Beaumont is widely regarded as the birthplace of America’s petroleum industry. Located near the site of the famous “Lucas Gusher” at the Spindletop Oilfield, Beaumont isn’t the oil-and-gas hub that it once was, but its home county sill produces tens of thousands of barrels oil per month. Major accidents in the area include a 2019 blast at a processing unit owned by the Texas Petrochemicals Group (TPC) that rocked the nearby community of Port Neches, releasing toxic substances into the area and prompting a massive evacuation. Seven years earlier, a large fire broke out a Beaumont refinery run by ExxonMobil, killing two and injuring 10.
  • Port Arthur: Just southeast of Beaumont, Port Arthur is home to one of the largest refinery complexes in the world, including a 3,600-acre plant jointly owned by Shell Oil and Saudi Aramco and a 4,000-acre plant owned by Valero. A major fire broke out at the Valero facility in 2017, industrial towers have collapsed at other area plants, and high-pressure chemical powders heated to 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit have broken through pipelines and killed nearby workers.
  • Orange: Forming what is known as the “Golden Triangle” along with the communities of Beaumont and Port Arthur, Orange has seen hundreds of millions of dollars of investment by major energy companies in the last decade. The industrial buildup has come with risks: Contractors have died on oil-and-gas construction sites, hazardous chemicals have been released into the community and harmed residents, and more.

West Texas

West Texas is a significant area for oil and gas production, with numerous communities deeply involved in the industry. The area’s Permian Basin is the highest-producing oil field in the United States, with an average of 4.2 million barrels of crude oil extracted per day as of 2019.

North Texas

North Texas’s Barnett Shale formation is thought to be the largest onshore natural gas field in the United States, and the region has a rich history of oil and gas production. Much of the Barnett Shale underlies the City of Fort Worth, and its reserves are often accessed through a particularly dangerous drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing (better known as “fracking”). In the Texas Panhandle, much of the oil-and-gas exploration takes place in an area known as the Granite Wash, on the Texas-Oklahoma border.

South Texas

South Texas is known for its significant contributions to the oil and gas industry, particularly due to the Eagle Ford Shale formation. At one time, the Eagle Ford Shale was the one of the most actively drilled areas for “unconventional” oil and gas in the nation. Like the Barnett Shale in North Texas, the Eagle Ford Shale’s reserves are often exploited through fracking.

Central Texas

While not as prominent as in West or South Texas, any good oilfield accident law firm understands how important the oil and gas industry is to Central Texas.

Common Causes of Texas Oilfield Accidents

The leading causes of oilfield accidents both in Texas and nationwide include the following:

  • Transportation Incidents: These are some of the most common causes of fatalities in the oil and gas sector, often involving vehicle collisions or rollovers during the transportation of workers and equipment.
  • Contact with Objects and Equipment: These accidents includes being struck by or caught between heavy machinery, tools, or other objects, which are prevalent risks on oilfield sites.
  • Fires and Explosions: Given the volatile nature of the materials handled in the oil and gas industry, fires and explosions are significant hazards, leading to severe injuries and fatalities.

Safety Guidelines, and Why an Oilfield Accident Law Firm Is Often Necessary

Preventing workplace injuries requires a concerted effort from employers, employees, and regulatory bodies. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets safety guidelines, conducts regular training, and ensures that U.S. workers who report safety violations do not suffer retaliation from their employers.

Click here to view OSHA’s current safety standards for the oil and gas industry. They cover general worker protection, necessary equipment maintenance, the fines that energy companies face for breaching these rules, and more.

Unfortunately, fines often aren’t enough to deter many oil and gas employers from cutting corners and endangering their workers. For workers who do sustain injuries—or for the families of laborers whose lives are lost—legal recourse is often necessary.

Filing a Texas Oilfield Accident Lawsuit with the Help of an Experienced Oilfield Accident Law Firm

If you or a loved one has been injured in an oilfield accident anywhere in Texas, filing an oilfield accident lawsuit can be a critical step in securing compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages. An experienced Texas oilfield accident law firm can guide you through the legal process and ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the compensation you deserve—whether it’s through a fair settlement or a courtroom verdict.

As with other personal injuries, it’s important for victims to consult with a seasoned accident lawyer or law firm before negotiating with insurance companies. Insurers make money by minimizing payments and usually offer far less than survivors deserve.

Conclusion

Statistics show that oilfield accidents present a significant risk to Texas workers, especially when it comes to fatalities. The data show the importance of stringent safety measures and the need for a victim’s access to an experienced oilfield accident law firm.

By providing this comprehensive overview, we hope to shed light on one of the most important safety issues in our home state—and to help protect working Texans from harm.