Category: Oil Field Accidents

EPA Links Fracking Wells to Earthquakes in North Texas

August 25, 2016 — The EPA believes there is a "significant possibility" that North Texas earthquake activity is associated with wastewater disposal wells from fracking, according to The Texas Tribune. The 61-page report (PDF) recommends "close monitoring" of wastewater disposal...

Justice Department Investigates Santa Barbara Oil Spill

August 11, 2015 -- Plains All-American Pipeline, the Texas-based operator of a pipeline that spilled about 150,000 gallons of oil near Santa Barbara, is now under investigation by federal, state, and local authorities. According to a regulatory filing (PDF), the...

Santa Barbara Oil Spill May Be Larger Than Estimated

August 5, 2015 -- Over two months after an oil spill fouled beaches in Santa Barbara, California, the operator of the pipeline said the spill may have been 40% larger than they originally estimated. Plains All-American Pipeline estimated that the...

BP to Pay $18.7 Billion for Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

July 2, 2015 -- After five years of litigation, BP has reached a $18.7 billion settlement following a deadly oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice. The payment...

Oklahoma Court Allows Fracking Earthquake Injury Lawsuits

July 1, 2015 -- The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that oil companies can be sued for injuries caused by earthquakes linked to drilling operations, the New York Times reports. The lawsuit was filed by Gary and Sandra Ladra against...

Santa Barbara Homeowner Files Class Action After Oil Spill

June 25, 2015 -- The Los Angeles Times reports that a homeowner in Santa Barbara has filed a proposed class action lawsuit claiming a recent oil spill decreased property values along the beach. The lawsuit (PDF) was filed against Plains...

Another Class Action Filed After Santa Barbara Oil Spill

June 15, 2015 -- Texas-based pipeline operator Plains All-American Pipeline has been hit with another proposed class action lawsuit after an oil spill in Santa Barbara devastated the community’s beaches and tourism just before Memorial Day Weekend, Law360 reports. The...

Nearly Half of Coastline Clean After Santa Barbara Oil Spill

June 9, 2015 -- Santa Barbara County officials say 44% of the shoreline between Santa Barbara and Ventura counties have been cleaned after last month’s oil spill at Refugio State Beach. The Los Angeles Times reports that crews have cleaned...

Oil & Gas Pipeline Explosion Lawsuit

Texas Oil Spill Class Action Lawyer

After major oil spills, class action lawsuits are often filed against pipeline companies by fishermen and business owners who had economic losses due to the environmental devastation.

Pipeline in Santa Barbara Oil Spill Had Extensive Corrosion

  June 4, 2015 -- An oil spill last mont in Santa Barbara happened along a badly worn section of pipe, federal regulators told the Associated Press. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said the pipeline had worn away...