Texas Petroleum Investment Company released a statement Wednesday after several people were injured after a natural gas well in a St. Mary Parish oil and gas field ignited Tuesday afternoon.
Texas Petroleum Investment Company owns the well, and said contractors working to cap a well were injured when a spark ignited natural gas.
While there were no serious injuries, the company said thankfully no one was killed and the fire was put out within two hours. The flow of gas from the well head is minimal.
KATC's Katie Easter spoke with the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, which says it will conduct a complete investigation into what happened Tuesday afternoon.
The agency says it cannot start that investigation until the area is considered safe by emergency personnel.
According to a spokesperson for Louisiana State Police, Troopers will continue to keep the area near the gas well clear of boats and air traffic.
Additional workers are also at the site, working on a plan to secure and plug the well, as well as protect the environment.
We've also reached out to Ocshner and Our Lady of Lourdes for an update on the patients they received, but have not yet heard back.
The full statement from Texas Petroleum Investment Company is below:
Contractors working to cap a shut-in well in the Belle Isle Field were injured when a spark ignited natural gas. Four employees of the contractor were evacuated for medical treatment. The fire occurred on Tuesday afternoon and was extinguished within two hours and gas flow has been minimized. Additional well control personnel are on the scene to develop a plan to secure and plug the well and protect the environment.
State Police released this photo on Wednesday of the site:
Read more:
Several injured after gas well ignites in St. Mary Parish oil and gas field
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