Explosion Lawyer

What Causes Explosions? Who Is At Fault For An Explosion?

Explosions in the oil & gas industry can be caused by many things. Some examples are when equipment is malfunctioning, when the wrong equipment is used for a job, when company policy prohibits using certain types of equipment, when employees work around dangerous chemicals without proper training or protective gear, and when the danger warning devices are installed on pieces of equipment fail to function or are not properly maintained. In the industry, every accident is investigated to determine what exactly happened and who is to blame. In cases where an explosion occurs at a plant or offshore oil rig, there are very complex rules governing what equipment should be used, how it must be maintained, and what types of precautions must be taken when employees work with dangerous chemicals or other hazardous materials. When these rules are not followed, tragedies happen. The experienced explosion lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP have handled numerous industrial plant and offshore explosion cases. In the cases we have handled, dangerous choices by oil and gas companies have caused serious injuries and horrific burns requiring surgeries, and even death. While the kinds and causes of fires and explosions vary, every single incident our experienced attorneys have encountered has the same overriding similarity: the fire or explosion could have been prevented if safety rules were followed.

What You Need to Know About Explosion Accidents

Explosion accidents are an all-too-common source of injuries in industrial settings. Hundreds of explosions happen every year in the United States, and Texas leads the rest of the nation in these accidents. A large portion of industrial explosions happen at oil and gas facilities such as oil refineries and tank battery facilities.

Explosion accidents typically occur when a dangerous, combustible material reaches an ignition source. This situation, commonly referred to as the “fire triangle” involves a combination of fuel, heat, and oxygen. When those elements combine, chemical reactions can lead to explosions.

At oilfield sites and refineries these explosions occur when an unplanned release of flammable materials such as oxygen, natural gas, naptha, or other hydrocarbon gases reaches the ignition source. This situation is so perilous that workers commonly remark, “if you have fuel and oxygen, the ignition source will find you.”

Common Causes of Explosion Accidents

Explosions are caused by a variety of factors, which can include: equipment failures, operator errors, and systematic errors.

Equipment Failures

Common equipment failures include equipment breaking, leaks in crucial piping or other storage equipment, and unplanned releases. Often, there are engineering or design failures that cause equipment to work improperly. The owner of a refinery or an operator may also fail to appropriately maintain lines and equipment, leading to breakdowns in the integrity of refinery equipment that goes unnoticed. When these failures cause fuel, heat, and oxygen to combine, explosions can occur.

Sometimes, when equipment fails the operator and contractors at the refinery still have time to take action before workers get injured. Unfortunately, even when there is time to take action, in some cases there are also issues with faulty warning systems at the refinery, so that workers do not have time to evacuate before injury occurs.

Operator Errors

Other failures are caused by operator error. Most commonly, operator error results from improper isolation or failures to lock out and tag out equipment. These are the most frequent operator errors, because they are perhaps the most devastating in their consequences. However, other operator errors can occur when, for example, valves are left open or persons monitoring crucial indicators at the refinery fail to recognize warning signs.

Operator error may also occur when there are unclear instructions or procedures as to how to operate systems at the refinery. Sometimes, for example, the cause of an explosion can be a workers’ failure to read and understand material safety data sheets (MSDS). Workers may not know what to do in the event of an emergency, or the refinery may lack adequate emergency shut off procedures. These procedures can sometimes be the only thing that helps avoid catastrophe.

Systematic Errors

Finally, explosions can occur due to systematic error. These errors happen when, for example, workers fail to communicate or coordinate work at the worksite. Simultaneous operations toolbox talks can help workers understand the risks presented by other work being completed in their workspace. Failures to communicate can be particularly dangerous when they happen during infrequent changes in work, such as during turnaround operations.

Systematic errors might also occur due to a lack of appropriate procedures, such as those governing isolation procedures, management of change, and evacuation procedures. Sometimes, appropriate procedures may be in place, but they are not written down or communicated to new contractors on site who may be unaware of certain risks other workers assume to be understood.

Moreover, there is often great pressure for owners and operators of oil and gas facilities to complete the work at the facility as quickly and as cheaply as possible. These pressures often lead to understaffing and lack of appropriate supervision at the facility and contribute to cultures of risk taking that can lead workers to ignore vital warnings.

Common Injuries In Explosion Accident Lawsuits

Because of their volatile and serious nature, explosion accidents often cause devastating injuries. It is not uncommon to see severe and debilitating burns, in addition to injuries to workers’ head, neck, back, and other parts caused by debris and during the workers’ attempts to escape the blast. Because workers can be so severely injured in explosion accidents, they often need care for the rest of their life. Determining the extent of care needed is an important part of these cases.

How Much Are Explosion Accident Cases Worth?

Juries have shown a willingness to make large awards in explosion cases due to the life changing effects these accidents can have on the people who are injured by them.

Just recently, a jury in federal court in Colorado awarded $30 million to an oilfield worker who was severely injured when a fracking tank exploded and caused him severe injuries. Last year, a Houston, Texas based jury awarded $29 million on behalf of five plant workers who were injured in an ExxonMobil refinery plant explosion.

Verdicts of this size require the right approach to an explosion case. A seasoned explosion attorney can help you recover the value you deserve when you are injured due to the negligence of others in an explosion accident.

How much do Explosion Accident Lawyers Cost?

An explosion injury attorney should not cost you anything unless they fight for you and win on your behalf. At Morrow & Sheppard we are well versed in the tactics of the negligent companies whose business practices lead to explosion injuries and death, and we will fight to make sure you get every dollar you deserve for your injuries. We take these cases on contingency, meaning you don’t pay us anything unless we recover on your behalf.

Common Types of Explosions

Before discussing what causes fires and explosions, it is helpful to discuss the contexts in which they occur. Here are some examples.

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Oilfield Explosions

Every year, there are several explosions in oilfields around the country. These include explosions in the Texas Eagle Ford Shale, the Haynesville Shale in Louisiana, the STACK play and SCOOP Play (Woodford Shale) in Oklahoma, and the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. As OSHA has recognized, “[w]orkers in the oil and gas industries face the risk of fire and explosion due to ignition of flammable vapors or gases.” Flammable gases, such as well gases, vapors, and hydrogen sulfide, can be released from wells, trucks, production equipment, or surface equipment such as tanks and shale shakers. Ignition sources can include static, electrical energy sources, open flames, lightning, cutting and welding tools, hot surfaces, and frictional heat.” To learn more about the common causes of oilfield accidents, please review our article.

Industrial Explosions

Our industrial accident lawyers have handled plant, refinery, and industrial fires and explosions in a variety of contexts. For example, we have handled cases in which a refinery operator failed to ensure lines were cleared during a welding operation, resulting in a flash fire that caused injuries.

Offshore And Maritime Explosions

Some of our offshore injury lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP performed work in connection with the Deepwater Horizon explosion, which is perhaps the most well-known offshore explosion in recent history. For reference, you can review our four-part series of articles about that explosion here: Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV. What were the causes of the largest offshore explosions? The common causes of offshore explosions include:

1964

C.P. Baker Drilling Barge, Louisiana

This catamaran-type drilling barge exploded in the Gulf of Mexico waters near New Orleans, Louisiana. 22 seamen died and 22 suffered burns or were otherwise injured. The United States Coast Guard investigation found that the explosion was caused by the “drill penetrating a high-pressure gas pocket before any protection against blowout had been provided.” This resulted in gas entering the vessel through the air conditioning system and igniting. Water rushed in and sunk the drilling vessel. The Coast Guard found that the casualty could have been avoided or diminished if the vessel had been able to move under emergent conditions, equipped with emergency power or lighting, able to control ignition sources in the face of a blowout, and had a proper designation of the line of command of personnel assigned to a drilling rig.

1969

Santa Barbara Oil Spill, California

This explosion and blow-out occurred aboard the Union Oil (Unocal) Platform A in the Dos Cuadras Offshore Oil Field in the Pacific Ocean near California. The entire crew was ultimately evacuated. Unocal was allowed to build a protective casing around a drilling hole that was 61 feet short of federal minimum requirements. The resulting explosion cracked the seafloor in five places and dumped as much as 100,000 barrels of oil into the ocean. Residents in nearby Santa Barbara County had to evacuate due to the risk of explosion from abundant hydrocarbon vapors. Unocal and ExxonMobil, which also had an interest in the well, paid millions in fines to the U.S. Government.

1979

Pemex Campeche Sedco 165, Mexico

This explosion in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico. When drilling mud circulated downhole escaped into underground cracks in the drilling formation, the rig crew decided to pull up the drill bit and seal off the fractures. When the pipe was pulled, drilling mud flowed up to the surface. This “kick” could not be stopped by the blowout preventer, because the thick drill collars(as opposed to the thinner pipe) had been brought in line with the BOP shear rams, and the rams were not strong enough to cut through the drill collars. A catastrophic blowout ensued.

1984

Enchova Petrobras, Brazil

16 were injured and 40 ultimately drowned. Six suffered serious burns in the rig fire.

1988

Piper Alpha, Scotland

This Occidental Petroleum platform in the North Sea exploded and sunk, killing 165 crewmembers and 2 rescue workers. 30 bodies were never recovered. Investigation revealed that the explosion was caused by a condensate leak, which resulted from simultaneous work on a pump and safety valve. The Scottish investigation headed by Judge William Cullen found Occidental Petroleum guilty of inadequate maintenance and safety procedures.

1995

Mobil Oil Rig, Nigeria

13 people were killed and many were injured in an explosion on an oil rig off the coast of Nigeria.

2001

Petrobras P-36, Brazil

A floating offshore production unit operating in the Roncador Field off the coast of Brazil capsized and sank following an explosion. The explosion was the result of poor alignment of the emergency drain tank (“EDT”) and tank heater, allowing for the accumulation and ignition of hydrocarbons in the starboard EDT. This resulted in an overpressure event that caused the tanks to crack and explode. The airtight dampers onboard allowed water to invade the starboard pontoon rooms including the pump rooms, which meant the pumps could not remove water from the hole created in the explosion. The vessel ultimately capsized. 11 people died and 137 were injured.

2005

Mumbai High North Platform, India

This offshore explosion and fire occurred during a medical evacuation of an injured crewmember from a multi-purpose support vessel (“MSV”) to a platform in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai, India. When the MSV’s dynamic positioning system malfunctioned, the captain took over manual controls. The vessel experienced a strong heave, and the MSV’s heliport struck a gas riser on the platform above, causing a high-pressure release that resulted in a fire and explosion. 22 people were killed. United Kingdom statistics showed that, at the time, the majority of ship collisions involved supply vessels.

2010

Deepwater Horizon, Louisiana

This Transocean rig operated by British Petroleum exploded and sunk in the Gulf of Mexico, 11 miles off the coast of Louisiana. 11 Jones Act seamen died and 17 were injured. The causes of the explosion included the Transocean drilling crew’s (1) misinterpretation of negative test results; (2) failure to perform flow checks and shut in the well; (3) failure to divert flow overboard; (4) failure to maintain the blowout preventer (“BOP”), and the Captain/Master’s failure to activate the emergency disconnect system (“EDS”). British Petroleum was found grossly negligent in causing the explosion by willfully disregarding abnormalities in the negative pressure test results, and deeming the tests a success. A Louisiana federal judge determined BP, Transocean, and Halliburton all “engaged in conduct that was negligent or worse and a legal cause of the blowout, explosion, and oil spill.”

2010

Mariner Energy Vermillion 380 A Platform, Louisiana

This offshore platform fire was caused by the collapse of a fire tube located inside the platform’s heater-treater. The emergency generator failed to start and the 13-person crew was forced to abandon the platform and jump into the Gulf of Mexico waters 102 miles off the Louisiana coast. The heater treater, designed to separate oil water emulsions into oil and water, contained a fire tube which had progressively weakened over many years due to corrosion and heat. BOEMRE determined that this incident reinforced the need of oil companies and drilling companies to maintain equipment in conformance with existing standards, to protect the safety of personnel onboard (as well as the environment) from injury including burns, injury, and death.

2012

Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigeria

Two people died in this jack-up rig explosion in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Nigeria. News outlets reported that “Chevron Corp. left workers pleading to be evacuated from a gas exploration platform off Nigeria which kept drilling while smoke poured from a borehole until an explosion killed two people as the rig became engulfed in flame.” The cause of the explosion was suspected to be the buildup of gas pressure or the failure of the blowout preventer (“BOP”).

2014

Fieldwood West Delta Blow 105 Platform E, Louisiana

This explosion occurred while Turnkey Cleaning Services personnel were cleaning an electrostatic heater treater. The supervisor was killed and several others were injured. BSSE determined that “when the WD 105 E electrostatic heater treater was partially drained of fluids that were inside the vessel during production operations, there was a significant amount of space remaining where flammable vapors could accumulate. Upon opening of the manway hatch to the coalescing section of the heater treater, these vapors were not promptly or effectively removed from the vessel through ventilation methods, and the interior of the vessel was introduced to oxygen from the outside environment, leaving it vulnerable to a potential fire or explosion should a significant ignition source occur. Additionally, all potential ignition sources were not effectively removed or mitigated during the preparation for, and activities of, cleaning the heater treater. The presence of each of these elements, therefore, created a hazardous environment that was conducive to such an explosion . . . the probable cause of the ignition was the unrestricted supply of electrical energy to the electrostatic components inside.”

2015

Petrobras-BW Offshore Mateus, Brazil

An explosion and fire occurred because of an oil and gas leak aboard the Cidade de São Mateus, a floating oil production, storage, and offloading ship (“FPSO”) owned by BW Offshore Ltd and operated by Petrobras. At least 3 seamen were killed, 10 were injured and transferred to a hospital by helicopter, and 6 were deemed missing.

2015

Pemex Abkatun, Mexico

An offshore explosion started with a fire in the dewatering and pumping area of the Abkatun A-Permanent platform in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Mexico. The cause was a leak in a gas fuel line, apparently because of accelerated corrosion caused by microorganisms and sulfuric acid within the gas. Four rig workers were killed, 16 were injured, and three were never found.

2015

Gunashli Platform No. 5, Azerbaijan

A high-pressure subsea gas pipeline damaged in a heavy storm caused a deadly fire to break out on an oil and gas platform in the Caspian Sea off the coast of Azerbaijan.

Vacuum Truck & Saltwater Disposal Explosions

Numerous work injury explosions have occurred involving oilfield vacuum trucks and saltwater disposal facilities. For example:

2018

Devon Energy Saltwater Disposal Facility

Our Firm handled a personal injury explosion lawsuit arising from a significant 2018 explosion and fire at a Devon Energy saltwater disposal facility near Kingfisher, Oklahoma, which resulted in third-degree burns and other injuries to three people: a saltwater 18 wheeler driver, chemical field service technician, and flowhand. The explosion occurred during a tank cleaning or “rolling bottoms” operation conducted to eradicate basic sediment and water (“BS&W”) from oil and water separation tanks called “gun barrels.” Our Firm hired top-notch experts including a NASA chemist and multiple engineers from different oil and gas disciplines to figure out what happened. The suspected ignition sources were either pyrophoric, spontaneously combusting iron sulfide deposits which built up in the tank and became exposed to air when the vacuum truck was operated or static electricity discharge from the vacuum truck itself. Our client was not involved in the tank cleaning operation and happened to be standing nearby when the explosion occurred.

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Vacuum Truck Engine Explosion

A vacuum truck entered a dike area within a tank block during a tank cleaning operation. While vacuuming flammable liquids from the tank sump, a fire started that destroyed the vacuum truck. The ignition source was the vacuum truck engine and the fuel was vapor from the truck’s vacuum exhaust vent.

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Vapor Cloud Explosion

An employee was unloading refinery waste from a vacuum truck. A vapor cloud formed from the light hydrocarbon being unloaded. The vapor was carried downwind by air currents to the tractor of the vacuum truck, where it ignited. The employee incurred fatal burns.

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Rosharon Incident Near Houston, Texas

In an industry-changing incident near Rosharon, Texas, three men died and four other workers incurred serious burns when two vacuum trucks were transporting and offloading basic sediment and water (BS&W) in 50-barrel vacuum trucks from gas leases to an authorized commercial disposal facility. The drivers discharged BS&W by opening the valves at the rear of the vacuum trucks, allowing the BS&W to gravity drain onto a sloped concrete pad leading to an open concrete pit, unaware that the BS&W contained flammable gas well condensate. The condensate hydrocarbon vapors formed a flammable mixture in the air, causing an explosion. OSHA and the United States Chemical Safety Board both conducted investigations and identified a number of corporate-level failures that contributed to the explosion.

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Non-Conductive Hose / Spark Explosion

A fire occurred when a non-conductive hose was used to vacuum a product from a small container. The incident report concluded that sparks at the point where the hose and the edge of the container came into contact created a source of ignition.

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Impact Spark Explosion

An off-loading fire was caused either by an impact spark when an off-loading hose was dropped into a storage tank or by static discharged when disconnecting a coupling. Another cause of the fire was sparks created by the whipping action of a discharge hose during off-loading.

2004

Iron Sulfide Sump Pump Explosion Involving Man From New Mexico

In 2004, an explosion and flash fire occurred at a natural gas plant operated by Tom Brown, Inc. and Encana Oil & Gas. A man, who was from New Mexico, was working for a vacuum truck subcontractor asked to vacuum out water in a sump tank. He alleged the explosion and his severe burns were the result of Encana allowing natural gas to enter through an open valve in a sump pump. He claimed Encana failed to properly lockout and tag out the tank. His experts testified that spontaneously combusting, pyrophoric iron sulfide deposits in the tank ignited the gas. Encana, meanwhile, claimed the subcontractor improperly hooked up the vacuum truck and failed to properly bond and ground it, leading to the buildup of static electricity which ignited the gas. Encana lost the liability phase of the explosion jury trial in Utah federal court. Thereafter, the case settled for a confidential sum before the jury awarded damages. The man sustained third-degree burns to his hands which had to be skin grafted, and he developed complex regional pain syndrome (“CPRS.”).

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Internal Vacuum Truck Tank Explosion

Reports of internal explosions or fires within vacuum truck cargo tanks are rare. However, incidents that have been reported point out the need for exercising care in the mixing of incompatible materials and the vacuum removal of dusts. In one instance, a static ignition occurred while dry, powdered sulfur was being suctioned from a pit, resulting in an explosion within the vacuum truck. Other internal ignitions have occurred when flint-type rocks or other sparking objects were picked up in the vacuum operation and sparked when discharged inside the vacuum truck tank.

???

Suction Hose Static Discharge

A pneumatic conveyor truck was used to transfer Perlite insulation out of a tank containing cryogenic process equipment. A static charge occurred between the metal “strongback” taped to the plastic suction hose, causing ignition of flammable vapors in the tank. The vapors were the result of small leaks in the process equipment. The employee standing at the tank manway was seriously injured.

???

H2S Release Explosion

Light ends and hydrogen sulfide gas were released when a vacuum truck was loading spent caustic. The problem was corrected by pumping the product into a truck instead of loading it under a vacuum.

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Vacuum Pump Tightening Incident

A vacuum truck operator’s sleeve caught on the vacuum pump as the operator attempted to tighten the pump packing resulting in injuries to the operator.

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Pipeline Overpressure Explosion

A vacuum truck was being used to remove a product from a pipeline when the line was activated and over-pressured the vacuum tank.

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Welding Explosion Near Vacuum Truck

A vacuum truck intended to remove light crude oil from a pipeline. The control valve was incorrectly set to discharge instead of vacuum. This resulted in a hydrocarbon release from pressured piping into an area where welding provided a source of ignition. A welder incurred fatal burns.

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Malfunctioning Suction/Discharge Connection

A vacuum truck was being prepared to pick up a load in freezing winter weather. The main suction/discharge connection on the vacuum tank’s rear bulkhead was malfunctioning. It is presumed the valve was frozen in the partially open position. The workers chose to use a propane torch to free the valve. Flame propagation through the partially open valve ignited an explosive mixture in the vacuum tank. The ignition blew off the vacuum tank’s rear door. The door struck two workers resulting in fatal injuries to both. A third worker also incurred fatal injuries in the incident.

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H2S Iron Sulfide Explosion

Personnel were purging, cleaning, and dismantling equipment after well testing activities were completed. The crew was preparing to enter the pressure tank to collect samples and clean the tank. The tank had been purged with propane to remove sour vapors from the vessel. After the H2S was reduced to an acceptable level, a vacuum truck was used to draw air into the pressure tank to purge the propane. The crew tried to open the manway door but could not due to a residual vacuum in the vessel. When the manway door was finally pried open, a high-velocity rush of air entered the vessel followed by an explosion and fire. Four workers suffered first and second-degree burns to their neck and head areas. Investigators determined that pressure tank grounding was removed before the job was completed and testing of samples taken from inside the vessel indicated the presence of iron sulfides.

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Rig-Out Explosion

During a rig-out operation, grounded vacuum trucks were pumping out a vented storage tank. The crew was on a break when the tank exploded, damaging nearby equipment. Pyrophoric iron sulfide was the suspected ignition source.

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Valve Removal Operation Causes Explosion

A crew of workers on a sour-lease site isolated sweet gas to a condensate task so that they could remove valves for maintenance. The tank later exploded. Iron sulfide was the suspected ignition source.

In many cases, vacuum truck explosions and saltwater disposal explosions occur due to violations of explosion safety rules set out in API 2219, Safe Operation of Vacuum Trucks Handling Flammable and Combustible Liquids in Petroleum Service. The above list contains numerous incidents specifically discussed in API 2219.

Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor (“BLEVE”) Explosions

Tanks and vessels around the world have exploded in boiling liquid expanding vapor (“BLEVE”) explosions. BLEVE explosions occur when pressurized liquid in a tank or other vessel reaches a temperature above its boiling point. The boiling point of liquids typically increases under pressure, which means the material in the tank may not boil as long as the vessel is intact. When something causes the tank to rupture, however, the above-boiling liquid rapidly converts to gas and expands, which can cause a fire or explosion.

BLEVE examples include:

1978

Nitrogen Tank Explosion, West Virginia

A BLEVE explosion occurred at a liquid nitrogen tank at an Air Products & Chemicals and Mobay Chemical Corporation facility in New Martinsville, West Virginia.

1978

Tank Car Explosion, Tennessee

A tank car carrying liquified petroleum gas exploded during a cleanup of a train derailment.

1988

Tanker Truck Disaster, Tennessee

A tanker truck carrying propane ruptured, causing ignition of the leaking gas, causing the tank itself to be launched and crashed into a nearby building.

1988

Propane Tank Explosion, Iowa

An 18,000-gallon propane tank near Albert City, Iowa exploded in a BLEVE which killed two volunteer firefighters and injured seven other emergency response workers.

2017

Semi-Closed Steam Condensate Receiver ("SCR"), Missouri

A condensate receiver near St. Louis had a BLEVE event. The bottom of a hot water storage tank failed catastrophically at the Loy-Lange Box company, causing the pressure in the tank to drop. The water in the exploded into steam, launching the storage tank “like a rocket,” according to the Chemical Safety Board (“CSB”) investigation. One box factory worker was fatally injured in the blast, and a second was left in critical condition. Three workers at a nearby healthcare linens business were fatally injured by the flying tank. The CSB determined that “The immediate cause of this incident is the mechanical integrity failure of the material of the original bottom head that remained in service following the 2012 repair. The SCR was uniquely vulnerable to catastrophic failure because the severe corrosion of the 6″ ring left it much thinner than the tank circle. The entire ring failed suddenly. The tank circle blew away in one piece from the SCR, creating the conditions for the steam explosion.”

Home Explosions

Unfortunately, there have been a number of preventable home explosions and apartment complex explosions resulting in severe personal injury burns, death, and other injuries. For example, our firm handled and tried a $7 million home explosion lawsuit in Webb County, Texas (near the Rio Grande Valley) arising from a utility room lean from a gas valve. Our expert fire and explosion investigators, and the jury, found the plumber, home builder, and CenterPoint Energy neglected to plug and seal the valve, in violation of various building codes and municipal ordinances. Our firm also recently handled another Colorado home explosion case which arose from leaking pipes underground.

Tank Battery Explosions

Numerous fires and explosions have occurred at tank battery facilities. For example, on January 24, 2022, there was an explosion and fire at a central Oklahoma oil tank battery operated by Devon Energy near Okarche, Oklahoma. Tank battery explosions have caused Louisiana to implement new safety rules.

The Fire Triangle

For most explosions to occur, the three elements of the “fire triangle” must come together in one place. The three elements of the fire triangle are (1) a fuel source; (2) oxygen; and (3) an ignition source.

Many times, investigations and news articles will focus on the ignition source of a fire or explosion. However, our fire and explosion lawyers have learned that sometimes this emphasis is misplaced. This is because, critically, if any one of the three legs of the fire triangle is eliminated, there will be no fire. There will be no explosion.

Frequently, companies are negligent (or even grossly negligent) in failing to recognize that, as opposed to attempting to eliminate all ignition sources, safe work practice and a safe work environment can be more reasonably achieved by eliminating oxygen or a fuel source from the work scenario. In the oilfield, there is a saying about this, which goes “if you have oxygen and you have a fuel source, the ignition source will find you.”

What’s The Difference Between A Fire And An Explosion?

A fire occurs when oxygen is rapidly consumed, producing heat and light. This chemical process involves a fuel and an oxidizer that produce energy, an “exothermic” event. An explosion occurs when energy expands rapidly from the source, and there is a dangerous shock wave. This is, technically, a purely physical process. Explosions can occur without any combustion or fire. For example, we handled a maritime injury case involving a pneumatic loading arm under pressure, which exploded and caused severe injuries and amputation. However, the incident did not involve fire or combustion. Many catastrophic industrial, offshore, oilfield and work injury events include fire and an explosion. For that reason, it is easy to confuse the two processes. But fires and explosions are, scientifically, two different things.

Explosion Fuel Sources

The causes of explosions vary. However, there are certain explosions that our fire and explosion lawyers see frequently in the work injury and wrongful death context.

Chemical Explosions
Liquid Explosions
Vapor Explosions
Solids Explosions
Flash Fires

Explosion Ignition Sources

Common ignition sources of fires and explosions include:

Static electricity and other electrical discharge
Sparks
Pyrophoric materials such as iron sulfide
Electrical conductors and equipment
Overcurrent and overload
Short circuit
Synthetic clothing fibers
Lightning
Gas burners and pilot lights
Machinery
Appliances
Dust collection devices
Flashlights, radios, cameras

What’s This About Oxygen?

Technically, an explosion can occur without oxygen. For example, in outer space, exploding stars (“supernovas”) are caused by nuclear and gravitational forces. Our explosion injury lawyers have also handled gas pressure explosions, which occur in things like boiler explosions and pressurized loading arm explosions. Those do not necessarily require outside oxygen either. Most work injury explosion cases, however, involve a chemical reaction and burning. Those generally require outside oxygen or an oxidizer, and sometimes both. An oxidizer accepts or “strips” electrons from another substance. This can release energy and cause ignition in and of itself. More frequently, oxidizers accelerate combustion—making the combustion event worse, more expansive, faster, or all of the above. As is discussed above, generally, if any of the three legs of the “fire triangle” are broken, a fire or explosion typically cannot occur. A properly planned work operation typically involves eliminating as many of the three legs as is possible. Many people are surprised to learn that, oftentimes, oxygen is the easiest of the three legs to eliminate. For example, in a petroleum service operation, sometimes there will necessarily be a fuel source (the oil or gas product) present. A well-planned and safe operation may require oxygen to be eliminated from the process, as well as the ignition source. For example, a vacuum truck offloading operation or a refinery tank cleaning operation may be conducted safely through the use of a nitrogen blanket, which removes oxygen from the process.

Who Is At Fault For An Explosion?

Oil & gas companies are required to follow certain safety procedures, but many employers fail to do so. The explosion attorneys at Morrow & Sheppard LLP have seen numerous cases where oil & gas companies were negligent in their duties to properly maintain machinery and equipment. However, even if an oil & gas company does everything correctly according to safety standards, it can still be found liable for an explosion if it hires the wrong person for a job or negligently fails to train employees or keep proper records about who is working near machinery and on what. In cases such as these, the root cause of an explosion is not due to any single thing; instead, it stems from multiple negligent decisions made over time. For example, even if an oil & gas company follows all of the safety procedures, an explosion can still happen if one employee is working with the equipment without proper training. Similarly, it may be difficult to pinpoint who or what was at fault for an accident which took place on a platform. All the evidence points to the offshore oil rig being properly maintained and its employees being adequately trained, but the machinery used to drill a hole for oil or gas exploded. In cases such as these, it can be extremely challenging to determine who exactly is liable for what happened. In some situations involving offshore oil rigs and other industrial plants, parts of larger oil & gas companies are held responsible because they could have prevented an explosion. For example, an explosion may occur which injures a welder who is working on a job. The welder can sue the company he or she was employed by and the oil & gas company that contracted him. It’s important for oil & gas companies to follow all of the safety precautions required of them and to ensure that their employees are not negligent about any aspect of their jobs. When they fail to do so and another person is injured, the law expects companies to pay for their mistakes.

Who is at fault for an explosion?

Depending on the factors that lead to the explosion, one or more parties may be at fault. In the case of refinery explosions, the operator is often charged with safety failures that led to the explosion occurring. For example, in one Channelview, Texas petrochemical plant explosion, OSHA fined the operator nearly $3.5 million and found that the massive explosion was caused in part by over 300 OSHA violations.

In other cases, the source of the explosion may not be as immediately clear. Major oil and gas companies routinely undergo a root cause analysis in their investigation of incidents, which can shed light on who the negligent parties are that caused the explosion. Other times, however, these root cause analyses are only given “lip service”, and are no more than an attempt to cover up the oil and gas company’s own negligence.

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Griselda was so helpful and knowledgeable! She made the entire experience seamless and went the extra mile on our case. We are so happy we chose Morrow & Sheppard to represent us!

Michael J.

John Sheppard and Chris West did an outstanding job in representing me following a rear-end collision. Highly recommended!

Jeff S.

Nick and Laura are the best..They helped every step of the way.Can’t recommend them highly enough.Not only do they get results but they care and make you feel like family.

Cassandra M.

They were very professional and understanding. The have patience and do their job well. If I had to return I would with no hesitation

Juber M.

4 months agoI am Extremely Happy with Morrow & Sheppard Lawfirm. I worked closely with Nick Morrow end Laura on my case With the rest of his staff. They were diligent in handling my law case matter to resolution. Laura end Nick would keep me up to date with the status of my case … More , They fought for me to get the best settlement possible.. I am happy with the outcome Thank you Nick and the staff Of MORROW END SHEPPARD LLP

Candace M.

Chris West is an excellent addition to the Morrow & Sheppard team. His skill set, dedication, and overall reliability he brings to the firm and clients are uncanny. You will not be disappointed.

Melis R.

I highly recommend the Morrow & Sheppard to anyone. They are an incredible group that did an outstanding job to make sure I got the highest settlement for my case. Attorney Daniel and his staff are all outstanding professionals with some serious case law knowledge and skill. His group went the extra mile for me and because of that, my life has forever changed. Thank you Attorney Daniel and everyone that’s a part of his firm that worked so hard. I really appreciate you!

D P.

I am Extremely Happy with Morrow & Sheppard Lawfirm. I worked closely with Daniel Sheppard and Chris on my case. They were diligent in handling my law case matter to resolution. Daniel would keep me up to date with the status of my case and Chris would also ensure all my paper work was submitted in a timely manner. I am Very Happy with the Outcome! Thank you Daniel and Chris. I highly recommend their services and would not hesitate to use them again.

Nikki L.

Very strong and courageous law firm I recommend to anyone who has suffered a injury from companies who need to be held responsible for lack of safety and security, my family is set for life and with these lawyers never backing down and fighting for truth behind every case and seeking the best future for our family has given our family a second chance at being able to make it in life and holding companies accountable lifting burdens off our lives, very proud and beyond blessed to have had them fight the fight and have a tremendous outcome for our future. Along with a great and kind staff we HIGHLY recommend this law firm.

Marceline A.

I was a client for 2.5 years after a car accident in 2019 and represented by Patrick McGinnis. He was knowledgable, compassionate, and level headed.His assisting paralegal, Ramona Anaya, was reliable, knowledgable, and kind in all our interactions.They went above and beyond to help me navigate everything that unfolded after my car accident. They were able to secure a favorable settlement before trial.I’m very happy to have had Morrow&Sheppard Firm represent me.

angel martinez J.

Professional and knowledgeable with years of experience.

Richard L.

I had a accident and I chose morrow&sheppard they was great from the start to the finish Chris was real informative and helpful was the whole process and got me a fair settlement they really care about there Clients if you in a car accident call them

Amanda W.

After a car accident last year I went to Morrow & Sheppard for assistance. Jose and Chris were exceptionally accommodating and handled my case with professionalism. They're primary concern was my well being and they went above and beyond to ensure I would receive the best settlement possible. A very efficient and dedicated team!

Susan L.

I've been in the legal field for a while now and not only do I know John Sheppard & Nick Morrow, I have attorney friends that have worked with them throughout the years. This is a great firm and great people that work at Morrow & Sheppard. I have been reading the reviews on here and it makes me happy to see that their clients think as highly of them as I do.

Dale S.

I was injured and my business closed down due to an accident in 2016. Daniel Sheppard became my greatest asset. He hired professional experts for their views and opinions as well as conducting numerous depositions. Daniel is hard working and no nonsense when handling your case. Daniel keeps you informed on what's going on and what to expect. I'm from Louisiana and my case was in Texas. Daniel Sheppard worked alone side my other attorney Yuri Beck, and the both of them did a fantastic job representing me and settling my case. Daniel Sheppard of Morrow & Sheppard in Texas and Yuri Beck of Hunter & Beck in Louisiana are my lawyers for LIFE.

Rosie E.

Nick Morrow and John Sheppard were the lead attorneys on my case to hold an apartment complex with inadequate security responsible for the death of my son. The two of them were focused and determined to represent me and my son's children with tenacity. As the case continued over time, it became apparent that we were not merely clients that were a means to a financial end to them but people who had experienced a life changing and devastating loss. They realized that as a result of our loss, there needed to be accountability that could only be obtained through legal actions. Throughout the legal process, Nick Morrow and John Sheppard were not only professional and transparent but also compassionate and empathetic as they lead us through the difficult and sometimes confusing legal maze. Every person in their office that was involved with our case exemplified an extension of the genuine concern that began with attorneys Morrow and Sheppard. I have and will continue to recommend this firm to individuals who find themselves in need of legal representation.

Don D.

The legal team at Morrow and Shepherd worked hard to help me win my case where a motorist who caused the accident changed her story and lied about the accident. A previous attorney kept telling me that I would probably have to pay some of the medical costs out of my own pocket.Daniel, my attorney, assured me that he would it is best to make sure this did not happen and that he would fight to get me the best compensation possible. He was true to his word.I'm happy with their work, happy with the compensation and would definitely use them again.The Legal Assistant, Chris, was always professional, friendly and polite and a pleasure to work with.A big thanks to the team!Don

Jeff N.

Nick and his group have helped where they can and are working hard to get a resolution to my injuries. I spoke with 4 different law firms prior to choosing Morrow & Sheppard LLP.ThanksJeff

Elizabeth Swanson V.

I was referred to Daniel Sheppard because of a car accident I had been in. I was very impressed with how he told me about the process of how things worked and the things to expect. He was very forth coming and always supportive. The experience was a positive one and ended on a great note! I highly recommend him.Elizabeth Varon

Christine E.

Before I engaged John Sheppard, I was concerned that I might lose my case. However, John came onboard, turned things around, and set me on a good course to win. He got up to speed quickly on the facts and determined exactly what we needed to do. He is great at strategy, filing discovery and other motions, and arguing before the court. I was extremely pleased with the outcome of my case. If you need legal help in a personal injury action, commercial law or whatever, hire him immediately! He is a pleasure to work with, will thoroughly explain all to you in a manner you can understand, and will get you the best possible outcome. A+++

BB C.

I was seriously injured and they represented me and I was so happy with the outcome and would recommend them to any others seeking professional lawyers. They also set me up with the best doctors. My son and I have now put this lawsuit behind us thanks to Morrow & Sheppard.

Stephen T.

Phenomenal lawyer. I can not heap enough praise on these guys,.

III 4.

Nick Morrow is a GREAT lawyer that really knows his job. He made me feel comfortable about hiring him to handle my case. He’s trustworthy and very compassionate about his work. His staff is awesome also, everyone was nice and friendly to me when I visited the office. The settlement I received exceeded my expectations, it was four times what I expected. I would highly recommend Morrow and Sheppard to anyone needing legal representation. Thanks again Nick!!

tim C.

I was injured working offshore. Morrow & Sheppard handled my maritime case and won a great settlement for me. If you have been injured at work, Morrow & Sheppard are great offshore injury lawyers.

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Explosion Injury Lawyers Get To The Bottom Of What Happened

Our top-rated explosion attorneys are contacted by families all the time. Yes–they want, need, and are entitled to compensation for their injuries or loss of a loved one. But they also want to know what happened. They want to make sure the same thing doesn’t happen to someone else. Our experienced explosion lawyers at Morrow & Sheppard LLP take this role seriously. We have spent millions of dollars hiring expert engineers and fire investigators, visiting explosion sites, and doing what it takes to investigate the causes of work-related fires and explosions. We have always been told and are hopeful that our clients are proud of the work we have done investigating fires and explosions, and can provide references in that regard. If you are reading this, and you or a loved one has been a victim of a fire or explosion, we would appreciate the opportunity to do the same for you and your family.