Worker Injuries in Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling

Marcellus Shale gas exploration and development differs greatly from the traditional natural gas development that has occurred in Pennsylvania. Extracting Marcellus Shale gas involves horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing (also called “fracking”) and other technologically advanced techniques to produce economically feasible flows of gas.  Oil and gas exploration companies are particularly interested in the Marcellus Shale because of the potential size of the natural gas reserve and its proximity to large population centers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

Marcellus Shale gas drilling is a labor-intensive, industrial activity. The large number of workers needed during drilling and exploration increases the likelihood of serious accidents. There already have been reports of explosions and well blowouts. Often serious work site accidents involve negligence on the part of the employer or drill operators. Employers often ignore work safety rules, fail to provide adequate training or take shortcuts to save money at the expense of worker safety.

If you have been injured in a Marcellus Shale gas drilling accident through the fault of others, you should talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer. The Marcellus Shale gas accident lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright are ready to talk with you free of charge about your legal options. For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online or call us toll free at 877-421-9173.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to stand up for the legal rights of our clients and provide them with exceptional legal representation. We have decades of experience in representing individuals and businesses that have suffered personal injury or damage to their property, which gives us an advantage in court and at the settlement table.

Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Accidents

The process of Marcellus Shale gas development can be divided into three distinct phases:

• Pre-drilling, which includes the leasing of land and site preparation;
• Drilling of wells;
• Production of gas.

 

A small workforce is required for locating a well, leasing land, surveying, permitting and other pre-drilling activities. The majority of workers are needed during the drilling phase, which is sometimes referred to as “the boom.”  The workers build pipeline infrastructure, operate heavy equipment and bore the well. The types of workers needed include roughnecks, heavy equipment operators, frack crews, roustabouts, welders, pipe fitters, foresters, loggers, boring crews, surveyors and rig operators. The larger the number of workers at a work site, the greater the likelihood of a serious accident.

Accidents often occur because your employer has not provided a safe work site or failed to provide adequate safety training. The types of injuries that result from drilling accidents include:

• Slip and fall accidents;
• Being hit by falling objects or heavy equipment;
• Cable breaks;
• Accidents caused by the inattention or carelessness of heavy equipment operators;
• Crane rigging injuries;
• Fires;
• Explosions;
• Exposure to hazardous chemicals.

 

If you have suffered serious personal injury in a fire or explosion related to the drilling of a Marcellus Shale well in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia or Maryland, there may have been violations of workplace safety standards that caused or contributed to your injuries. You need to talk to an experienced Marcellus Shale gas accident attorney.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to provide exceptional legal service to our clients and stand up for their legal rights. The results show in the compensation we obtain for our clients. Individuals who have been seriously injured in workplace fires or explosions should contact our office to learn your legal rights and options.

We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through teamwork and the use of our considerable resources and experience. For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online or call us today toll free at 877-421-9173.