$1.3M Settled for a Workplace Injury

Our client sustained workplace personal injury after being struck by a drag tool when it was improperly inserted into a gaseous well by the defendant. The accused admitted that large oil producers in the area, such as Chevron Corporation, do not permit them to use drag tools for well testing. He alleged that this is due to the gassy nature of wells in the Bakersfield area, especially in the Poso fields, where the workplace accident occurred.

The defendant had a kbar tool in his truck but neglected to use it. This machine was the proper tool to use for testing a gaseous well – instead of the drag tool.

The problem with this machine is that it does not allow pressure to escape along the outside of the tool. Instead, it seals the well until it blows the tool out of the well, as it did in this case.

Workplace Negligence Causing Serious Personal Injury

The workplace accident involving personal injury occurred when the drag tool was driven into the well. After descending at high speed, it flew out of the well before coming back down, striking our client’s head and back. The force of the impact caused them to sustain serious injuries. They suffered a severe head injury and multiple disc fractures in the cervical and thoracic areas of his back.

The kbar tool is heavier than the drag tool, making it more difficult to eject and insert forcefully. It also allows gas or pressure to escape at the sides. In this way, the kbar does not build up and cannot be forcibly ejected from the hole.

Work negligence is undeniable. Other than looking down the hole to see if our client could see any pressure, the operator did not ensure that there was any ‘bleeding’ of pressure from the hole.