Oil Rig Explosion in Lake Pontchartrain Critically Injures Workers

October 16 2017
– by Lucy Campbell

New Orleans, LA: An oil rig on Lake Pontchartrain exploded on Sunday, October 15, 2017, critically injuring several workers on the rig while another remains missing. The rig exploded off Kenner, LA, and the Coast Guard resumed its search for the missing worker on Monday.

According to NBCNews.com the explosion was so loud the sonic boom rattled houses in towns over a mile away from the scene.

Seven people were injured in the explosion, five of whom were taken to the University Medical Center and two to East Jefferson General Hospital. The five who were brought to UMC suffered blast type injuries and burns and are reportedly in critical condition. The two injured workers at East Jefferson are reportedly in stable condition.

The rig, which is in production, is owned by Clovelly Oil Co. of New Orleans, and is located roughly a mile-and-a-half north of Kenner, Louisiana. On Sunday, East Bank Consolidated Fire Department Chief David Tibbets told NOLAnews.com that the platform is used for the transfer of oil.

Oil and Gas workers are subject to some of the most hazardous industrial conditions in the US. Serious injuries and fatalities occur too often from an oil accident or gas accident. Oil and gas attorneys ensure that gas and oil companies are held accountable for oil drilling accidents and oil field accidents.

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