"Gas well blast at abandoned W.Va. coal mine injures 7" by Associated Press | June 8, 2010
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A crew drilling a natural gas well through an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle hit a pocket of methane gas that ignited, triggering an explosion that burned seven workers, state and company officials said yesterday.
The seven workers were taken to the West Penn Burn Center in Pittsburgh. Two were released by the end of the day and the others were in fair condition and talking with their families, a hospital spokesman said.
Thank God for that.
The blast created a column of flame that was initially at least 70 feet high, but the rig operator said the site was secure and the fire was about 40 feet high by late morning.
A team from Texas-based Wild Well Control, a company that specializes in rig fires, will decide whether to let the methane burn or try to extinguish the flames, said Kristi Gittins of Dallas-based Chief Oil and Natural Gas....
Texas, huh (see related link below)?
She said methane is a risk when working near old mines, and the company typically takes a variety of precautions, including venting systems....
Whatcha say?
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