Accident - Fatal Well Blowout in Burleson, Texas

On January 29, 2020, Wendland 1-H well (“Wendland 1-H well”), located in Burleson County, Texas and operated by Chesapeake Operating, L.L.C. (Chesapeake), experienced a loss of well control that resulted in a blowout of the well. Oil and gas escaped the well, and within seconds, found an ignition source, resulting in a flash fire in the vicinity of the well that fatally injured three contract workers and seriously injured another.

At the time of the incident, contract workers from Eagle were in the process of installing a new tubing head as part of a work over operation. Workers from Forbes, who provided the work over rig, were near the Wendland 1- H well preparing for their follow-on task of installing tubing in the well. Following the blowout, the ensuing flash fire destroyed the work over rig and several nearby vehicles, resulting in an estimated $1 million in property damage in addition to the fatalities and serious injuries.

Learning Objective:

By the end of this course, students will learn the cause and origin of the blowout accident.