John C. Austin | July 22, 2024 | Oil Rig Accidents
Offshore oil rig workers face one of the world’s most demanding and dangerous jobs. Offshore drilling itself is hazardous and requires extreme safety measures and protocols. Unfortunately, many of the worst accidents in the industry’s history have been caused by poor maintenance, oversight, or training.
Whether they are caused by negligence or extreme weather, oil rig disasters often result in a devastating loss of life and significant environmental damage. Here are some of the worst offshore oil rig disasters and explosions that have ever happened.
Alexander L. Kielland Disaster (March 1980)
The Alexander L. Kielland was a Norwegian semi-submersible drilling rig operating in the North Sea. It was used for drilling purposes as well as a “floating hotel” to provide living quarters for off-duty workers. It could accommodate up to 386 workers and even had a cinema.
On March 27, 1980, there were 212 men on the vessel, most of them off-duty. In the evening, men heard a loud cracking sound. Five of the six anchor cables broke, and the vessel suddenly tilted more than 30 degrees before stabilizing. The rig continued to list until the remaining cable snapped, and it capsized about twenty minutes later.
Of the 212 men aboard the Kielland, 123 were killed. It remains one of the deadliest oil rig disasters in history.
Ocean Ranger Disaster (February 1982)
The Ocean Ranger was a mobile offshore drilling rig that sank on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland while drilling an exploratory well for Mobile Oil. A major storm with waves of 55 to 65 feet and winds up to 100 knots developed quickly and struck the Ocean Ranger and two other semi-submersible platforms nearby.
A porthole window just 28 feet above the waterline was damaged and allowed water into the ballast control room. All 84 crew members were killed after they were forced to abandon the platform before it sank. The nearby vessels were not equipped to perform rescue operations, especially in such severe weather.
Piper Alpha Disaster (July 1988)
The Piper Alpha oil rig disaster remains the deadliest oil rig disaster in history. About 120 miles off the coast of Scotland in the North Sea, the Piper Alpha exploded when gas flooded the engine pump. A communication error during shift change caused the leak, which triggered several explosions.
The disaster killed 165 men on board and two rescuers, with 61 workers surviving. At the time of the explosion, the platform was responsible for 10% of the North Sea’s oil and gas production as the single-largest oil producer in the world. The insured loss was $2.18 billion ($7.69 billion in 2023).
The Sinking of the Drillship Seacrest (November 1989)
The Drillship Seacrest (DS Seacrest), also called the Scan Queen, was a U.S. drilling rig operating in the Gulf of Thailand. In November 1989, Typhoon Gay swept through the gulf and caused widespread destruction. Its 40-foot waves capsized the DS Seacrest and killed 91 of the 97 workers on the vessel.
The typhoon killed 800 people throughout the region, including 529 people in the Gulf on drilling and fishing vessels.
Deepwater Horizon Disaster (April 2010)
In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig exploded and sank in the Gulf of Mexico. It was one of the largest oil spills in history, with 3.2 million barrels of oil spilling into the Gulf over 87 days before the well was capped. The accident killed 11 rig workers of the 126 onboard.
An investigation found that the explosion was caused by systemic failures in risk management, which caused the well blowout. There were many warnings before the explosion. In 2009, BP engineers expressed concern that the materials they wanted to use in drilling would fail under pressure. Workers believed they would be fired for raising concerns over unreliable equipment in need of maintenance.
There was an unreported accident in March 2010 that caused damage to the blowout preventer, which had not been inspected in five years. Finally, engineers saw warning signs of an imminent blowout hours before the explosion.
Contact an Experienced Attorney If You or a Loved One Were Hurt in an Oil Rig Accident
In the Gulf of Mexico alone, there are nearly 6,000 offshore oil rigs. While accidents involving oil rigs are not common, when they do happen, they are typically catastrophic. An oil rig disaster can have a devastating environmental impact and cause the tragic death of dozens of workers.
Workers who do survive an oil rig disaster are often left with life-changing injuries. From 2015 to 2021, about 2,000 oil and gas extraction workers suffered severe injuries, one-third of which involved amputation.
Have you or someone you love been hurt in an offshore explosion or accident? A lawyer can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation. Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation.
Contact the Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers Law Firm for Help Today
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a Oil Rig Accident lawyer. We have convenient locations in Florida: St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Law Office
840 Beach Dr NE Suite 202
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Personal Injury Lawyers – Safety Harbor Law Office
202 9th Ave S Suite A-2
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 787-2500