Law Office of Scott A. Nelson, P.C.

Texas refinery accident lawyers need to understand the causes of refinery accidents. On March 23,2005, an explosion at BP’s Texas City, Texas refinery killed 15 people and injured at least 180 more. Investigations revealed the causes of the explosion to be safety cost-cutting measures, undue production speed pressures, old and antiquated equipment and extremely fatigued employees. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued at least 271 notifications to BP for failing to correct problems and hazards at the refinery over a four-year period since the accident. Accordingly, OSHA issued fines of $56.7 million. Additionally, OSHA noted 439 "willful and egregious" violations of industry-accepted safety controls. These violations will lead to additional fines of $30.7 million. Contact Texas refinery accident attorney Scott Nelson if you or a loved one has been injured in a refinery accident.

Oil rig accident attorneys need to always investigate the weather and the role it plays in an accident. On November 25, 1979, The Bohai No. 2 jack-up, which was operated by the Ocean Oil Company sank in a storm with fierce winds. At the time of its sinking, it was being towed in the Gulf of Bohai, which is between China and Korea. 72 of the 74 persons on board perished. Apparently, huge waves washed over the main deck and broke a ventilator pump free, causing it to puncture a hole in the deck. Eventually, the horrendous weather and lack of stability casued by the flooding caused the jack-up to capsize and then sink.  The crew was apparently not properly trained on emergency procedures and the use of lifesaving equipment. Contact Texas oil rig accident lawyer Scott Nelson if you or a loved one has been hurt and need assistance. Mr. Nelson serves Houston, Galveston, Victoria, Laredo, Corpus Christi and all of Texas.

Oil rig accidents can turn deadly quickly.  At the time of the accident, drilling and exploration was occurring in the Bay of Campeche, about 20 miles offshore from the port of Dos Bocas in Tabasco state. The Usumacinta drilling rig operates under contract to Pemex, the Mexican national oil company. Because of the gas leak, employees donned lifejackets and began boarding the lifeboats. However, the lifeboats began to collapse and break apart due to the fierce waves being generated by the severe weather. In fact, several workers did not survive the conditions and drowned at sea. PEMEX announced that there would be three independent investigations regarding the cause of the accident. Many speculated that the rig suffered some kind of structural or jacking failure. Contact Texas oil rig accident attorney Scott Nelson if you or a loved one has been hurt in an oil rig accident. Mr. Nelson serves Houston, Laredo, Dallas, Galveston, Corpus Christi and all of Texas.

Offshore Oil rig accident attorneys need to understand how weather can cause major accidents. On October 21, 2007, the Usumacinta, a mat-supported jack-up rig, was brought into position alongside the Kab-101 platform to finish drilling the Kab-103 well. The Kab-101 platform is a light production Sea Pony type platform.

On October 23, 2007, a cold front passed through the Gulf of Mexico bringing winds of 80 miles per hour and 20 to 25 foot seas. The rough weather caused oscillating movements, which in turn caused the cantilever deck of the Usumacinta to run into the top of the production valve tree on the Kab-101 platform. This caused a serious leak of oil and gas. 22 oil workers were killed as a result of this accident, with 63 injured.

Contact Texas oil rig accident lawyer Scott Nelson if you or a loved one has been hurt in an oil rig accident. Mr. Nelson serves Houston, Galveston, Corpus Christi and all of Texas.