Investigation into deadly accident at Encana gas well in Colorado could take weeks, One dead, three hurt in Colorado

Investigation into deadly accident at Encana gas well in Colorado could take weeks, One dead, three hurt in Colorado by Amanda Stephenson, August 16, 2012, Calgary Herald
CALGARY – Encana Corp. and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating an accident at one of the Calgary-based company’s natural gas wells in Colorado that killed one worker and injured three others on Wednesday. The “high-pressure gas release” took place as the four men were bringing the well onto production Wednesday afternoon, near the town of Platteville, Colo., said Doug Hock, a spokesperson for Encana’s U.S. division. “There was no fire, it was a high pressure situation,” Hock said. “It was some sort of malfunction that allowed high pressure gas to escape. What caused that we don’t know, and that’s what’s being investigated.” Elizabeth Todd, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Labour, said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation could take weeks or even months. She said the process will involve reviewing the area, conducting interviews with witnesses and employees, and examining equipment. If any violations of safety standards are found, the OSHA can issue citations that could accompany a monetary penalty. Hock said Encana will cooperate with the OSHA investigation, and will also examine their own processes in an effort to piece together what happened. … The incident occurred on the Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Davis well pad, a multi-well pad where three horizontal wells had recently been safely drilled and completed. The well pad is located in the Niobrara shale formation, which stretches through parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

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