Oil Well Blowout Kills Worker in Central Texas

An oil well blowout Wednesday afternoon in central Texas killed one worker and injured three others.

The Deanville Volunteer Fire Department posted an emergency message to its Facebook page — “Oil well fire on CR 127. Multiple fire departments on scene. PLEASE AVOID AREA!!”

Chesapeake Energy identified the casualties as contractors working on a company well site when the fire occurred. Survivors were transported by air to hospitals in Austin and Houston.

A blowout is an uncontrolled release of crude oil or natural gas from oil or gas well after pressure control systems have failed. The flammable material can ignite into an intense fire.

Wild Well Control, specialists in oil field firefighting, responded to the scene 75 miles east of Austin.