JOHNSTOWN – A Texas oil well company has denied allegations from a Western Pennsylvania man that he suffered a litany of facial injuries, after a driller’s release of mud caused him to fall and strike his face on a piece of equipment at an oil drilling site.
Anthony Hile of Grampian first filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on Oct. 13 versus National Oil Well Varco, L.P. (doing business as “NOV LP”) and National Oilwell, Inc. (doing business as “NOV, Inc.) of Houston, Texas, National Oil Well Varco Holdings LLC of Wilmington, Del., Omron Electronics, Inc. of Philadelphia, Omron Electronics, LLC of Wilmington, Del., Omron IDM Controls, Inc. of Philadelphia, Schlumberger NV (doing business as “SLB, as a successor-in-interest of Omron Oilfield and Marine, Inc.”) of Houston, Texas, Omron Electronic Components, LLC of Hoffman Estates, Ill., Omron Systems, LLC, Omron Systems of America, Inc. and Omron Manufacturing of America, Inc. of Wilmington, Del., Omron Management Center of America, Inc. of Hoffman Estates, Ill., Omron Logistics of America, LLC and Omron Logistics of America, Inc. of Wilmington, Del., Nabors Drilling Technologies, Inc. of Wilmington, Del., Nabors Drilling Technologies USA, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, Nabors Drilling Equipment Leasing, LLC of Wilmington, Del., Nabors Industries, Inc., Nabors Drilling USA, Nabors Equipment, Inc. and Canrig Drilling Technology, LTD., all of Houston, Texas.
“On Oct. 21, 2021, and at all relevant times, plaintiff was employed as a derrick hand by Patterson-UTI Drilling Company, LLC and was working at a well-site located on Shepard Hill Road, in Jacobsburg, Ohio at Rig 296. Rig 296 had been equipped to operate with a top drive which was designed, manufactured, inspected, tested, sold, marketed and supplied by Nabors and/or NOV defendants and which featured a remote control operated Internal Blowout Preventer positioned to the lower portion of the top drive,” the suit said.
“This remote operation system, and related control console, was designed, manufactured, inspected, tested, sold, marketed and supplied by Omron defendants. Following an operation in which the drill pipe was perforated and drilling mud had been pumped through the perforations, the Driller at the rig attempted to open the lower IBOP valve remotely using the Driller’s console as per typical operating procedure in order to release pressure within the drill pipe which had built up from the pumping down of drilling mud. At this time, the Driller’s console displayed a green light indicating that the lower IBOP valve had opened.”
The suit added that the plaintiff was “then instructed by the Driller to manually open an additional bleed off valve to further release any trapped drilling fluid pressure within the drill pipe.”
“Operating under the impression that both valves had been properly released, the Driller instructed plaintiff, along with another employee, to begin to break the connection between the crossover sub and the drill pipe and to hold a reservoir to catch any residual drilling mud from the pipe as the disconnection occurred. As the Driller began to spin the pipe out of the connection, a massive release of pressurized drilling mud occurred from the resulting gap between the crossover sub and the drill pipe. This release caused plaintiff, who had been standing adjacent to the drill pipe, to be pushed backwards, causing him to fall and strike his face onto piece of equipment nearby,” the suit stated.
“As a direct and proximate result of the negligence, carelessness and recklessness of defendants, plaintiff sustained the following serious injuries, some or all of which may be permanent: LeFort Type I Fracture, maxillary fracture, nasal bone fracture, pterygoid plate fracture, closed fracture of hard palate, lip laceration, multiple teeth fractures, loss of teeth, acute respiratory failure, bilateral pulmonary contusion, bruises, contusions and other injuries in or about nerves, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, tissues and vessels of the body, nervousness, emotional tension, anxiety and depression and other injuries to be proven at trial.”
UPDATE
National Oilwell Varco, L.P. filed an answer to the complaint on Dec. 14, either denying the plaintiff’s allegations or finding it was without sufficient knowledge to respond to them. The company also brought nine affirmative defenses forward.
“The compliant fails to state a claim against NOV upon which relief can be granted. NOV denies any liability to plaintiff. The plaintiff’s injuries and damages were caused by the negligence and fault of parties for whom NOV is not responsible. The plaintiff’s injuries and damages were caused by defects in products and/or equipment not designed, manufactured or supplied by NOV,” per the defenses.
“The plaintiff’s injuries and damages were caused by the improper use of the rig and its equipment, including the top drive by plaintiff and other members of the rig crew. The plaintiff’s injuries and damages were caused by the failure of plaintiff and/or other members of the rig crew to properly inspect, maintain, repair, and operate the rig and its equipment, including the top drive. Plaintiff and/or other members of the rig crew failed to follow proper operating procedures and practices. Plaintiff has failed to mitigate his damages.”
For multiple counts of negligence, strict products liability, breach of warranty, the plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $75,000, plus court costs, interest and all other and further relief permitted by the Court.
The plaintiff is represented by Chad P. Shannon and Ian M. Watt of Friday & Shannon, in Pittsburgh.
The defendants are represented by Thomas V. Gebler Jr. of Swartz Campbell in Pittsburgh and Douglas C. Longman Jr. of Jones Walker in Lafayette, La., Bradley D. Remick of Marshall Dennehey in Philadelphia, Jaime N. Doherty and Lisa M. Siefert of Goehring Rutter & Boehm, also in Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania case 3:23-cv-00256
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nick.malfitano@therecordinc.com