Exxon halts activity at Texas oilfield site following worker fatality

EXXON Mobil temporarily halted maintenance at an East Texas oil drilling facility after a fatality this week, which was at least the second death this year of a contractor at one of its Texas production sites.

The incident occurred on Tuesday (Sep 20) near Hawkins, about 110 miles east of Dallas. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office said.

The name of the worker, an employee of Axis Energy Services, was not immediately available. The death was ruled accidental, the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post.

Axis could not immediately be reached for comment.

“Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time,” Meghan Macdonald, a spokesperson for XTO and ExxonMobil, said in a statement. She declined to comment further.

This year, Pamela Bleyl, 49, was killed in an incident at an Exxon shale oil production site in West Texas.

SEE ALSO

Exxon to sell Arkansas shale gas assets to Flywheel Energy

Exxon Mobil shuts Fos-Sur-Mer refinery in France due to strike

Exxon escalates dispute with Russia over barred exit from oil project: WSJ

Asean Intelligence

Get insights into businesses across South-east Asia

Get the free report

An employee of oilfield services provider Liberty Energy, Bleyl was crushed between 2 pieces of equipment while working in Martin County, according to a negligence lawsuit filed in April in Harris County district court in Houston.

“We are very sorry this incident occurred, and we continue to express our deepest sympathy to Pamela’s family and friends,” Macdonald said, adding safety is a priority for the company and “the core value at all of our operations and facilities.” REUTERS