Two Airlifted To Hospital After Oil Well Incident Near Flomaton
September 10, 2014
Two men are lucky to be alive, according to officials, after falling into two dangerous chemicals at an oil well near Flomaton Wednesday morning.
Both came in contact with xylene and hydrogen sulfide (commonly called H2S gas) at the Eagle Rock oil well on Halls Creek Road off Upper Creek Road, according to Flomaton Fire Chief Steve Stanton. Both chemicals are natural byproducts of the oil drilling process.
The men were transported by private vehicle to the Flomaton Fire Department for treatment. They were airlifted to area hospitals in critical condition. Their names and current conditions have not been released.
The chemicals were contained to the oil well and did not pose a threat to the public.
H2S gas, in high concentrations, can cause immediate collapse and death after a single breath. Excessive exposure to xylene can also also cause coma, respiratory failure and death.
Comments
6 Responses to “Two Airlifted To Hospital After Oil Well Incident Near Flomaton”
I work in the oil fields of north Dakota where we have strick safety guidelines for entering hot H2s areas also have the right safety equipment h2s is a highly dangerous gas that you can’t smell nor see and it only takesa little to kill. Praying for the workers speedy recovery.
@Just curious – these wells vent all the time and are usually not at a hazardous level. It is also why those well sites are posted to keep away. If you stay at the perimeter you are safer than walking up to it.
Just praying the men are ok.
Also curious as to why h2s was present unless they were repairing a leak. If a leak occurred how much escaped ? Those chemicals can cause serious lung and organ damage and death.
Prayers are being said….GOD BLESS those two men and their recovery.
Praying for them
Praying…