Update: Injection Well Fire! NOT the First Time

An update from the previous post. Here is a picture from WFAA

The worker was badly burned when a fire broke out in the containment pool he was cleaning at the injection well.

I hope the worker will be alright.

They keep telling us that injection wells don’t have any chemicals, only saltwater and clay. Saltwater. Yeah, that shit just blows up into flames all the damn time these days. Yeah, that’s it. That’s the ticket.

Only, LOOKIE! This is not the first time something like this has happened.

SAFETY BULLETIN
NOTICE TO WASTE HAULERS AND OPERATORS OF
DISPOSAL AND PRODUCING WELLS

Fatal Accident at Waste Disposal Facility Highlights
Potential Flammability of Basic Sediment Waste From Gas Leases

INCIDENT
In January of 2003, a flash fire killed three and seriously burned four workers at a commercial oil and gas waste disposal facility. The U. S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) (website at www.chemsafety.gov) investigated the accident and concluded that neither the waste generator nor the waste hauler recognized the potential flammability hazard of oil and gas waste.

The accident involved two vehicles operated by employees of an authorized oil and gas waste hauler who were transporting basic sediment and water (BS&W) in 50-barrel vacuum trucks from gas leases to an authorized commercial disposal facility. Apparently the BS&W contained a significant amount of gas well condensate. The drivers discharged wastes by opening the drain valves at the rear of the vacuum trucks allowing the BS&W to drain into a concrete pit. This method of drainage released sufficient hydrocarbon vapors to form a combustible mixture in air. The drivers left the engines of the vacuum trucks running and the CSB concluded that intake of flammable vapors caused the diesel engine to initially race and then backfire, igniting the vapor cloud to cause the flash fire.

REGULATORY RESPONSIBILITY
The Railroad Commission is providing this notice to waste haulers and operators of disposal and producing wells to remind them of the importance of educating their employees about the potential hazards of oil and gas wastes. The U. S. Department of Transportation hazardous materials regulations apply to (a) each person who offers hazardous materials for transportation (oil and gas operator) and (b) each carrier who transports a hazardous material (oil and gas waste transporter). The Railroad Commission advises all authorized waste haulers and operators who generate oil and gas waste of their responsibility to determine the hazards of any oil and gas waste that they offer for transport or that they accept for transport and to comply with applicable regulations regarding worker safety and safe transportation of materials. Where appropriate, operators may need to provide multilingual notice to employers and contractors.

U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations govern the transportation of hazardous materials and, in Texas, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) administers and enforces those regulations. In addition, all employers
must comply with appropriate Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) safety regulations. Appropriate methods of identifying potential hazards may include placarding for transported materials (DOT/DPS regulations) and material safety data sheets (MSDS) for chemical constituents (OSHA regulations).

RESOURCES
Information regarding hazardous material transportation and communication may be found at the following sites:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safetyprogs/hm/complyhmregs.htm
“How to Comply with Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations,” Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration,
U.S. Department of Transportation
http://hazmat.dot.gov/
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/lw/Publications/hazmat.pdf
“Do you transport hazardous materials?” U.S. Department of Transportation
http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/hazardcommunications/
“Safety and Health Topics: Hazard Communications,” Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department
of Labor

Update: Injection Well Fire in Keene.

About Sharon Wilson

Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.