The legal team of oilfield injury lawyers at Schmidt & Clark, LLP is dedicated to protecting the rights of injured oil rig workers and is one of the only firms with knowledge of maritime law willing to pursue justice in these practice areas in Delaware and throughout the entire United States.
Oil and Gas Production in Delaware
Delaware does not have any crude oil reserves or production; however, it does have a petroleum refinery at the Port of Wilmington, which is the world's largest port for handling bananas and the United State's leading entry point for fresh fruit and produce.
The Port of Wilmington has a bulk petroleum terminal and a storage depot that handles heating oil, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products. Crude oil from across the globe arrives at the port and at a smaller port at Delaware City, which is 9 miles downriver from Wilmington.
Delaware City Refinery
Delaware City is the location of the state's only crude oil refinery. The refinery relies on crude oil supplies delivered via ship and rail, and can process over 170,000 barrels a day into gasoline, heating oil, and other petroleum goods. The Delaware City refinery connects to a petroleum product distribution network of pipelines, barges, tankers, trucks, and railroads.
Energy Use in Delaware
Delaware's total energy consumption is among the lowest in the U.S. due to its small population. However, Delaware's per capita energy use is higher than expected because of its energy-intensive chemical manufacturing and petroleum-refining industries.
Delaware Energy Statistics
State Overview
- Population: 0.93 million (<1% total U.S.)
- Housing Units: 0.41 million (<1% total U.S.)
- Business Establishments: 0.02 million (<1% total U.S.)
Annual Energy Consumption
- Electric Power: 11.5 TWh (<1% total U.S.)
- Coal: 700 MSTN (<1% total U.S.)
- Natural Gas: 28 Bcf (<1% total U.S.)
- Motor Gasoline: 8,800 Mbarrels (<1% total U.S.)
- Distillate Fuel: 2,100 Mbarrels (<1% total U.S.)
Annual Energy Production
- Electric Power Generation: 8.6 TWh (<1% total U.S.)
- Coal: 1.4 TWh, 16% [0.8 GW total capacity]
- Petroleum: 0 TWh, <1% [0.1 GW total capacity]
- Natural Gas: 6.8 TWh, 79% [2.5 GW total capacity]
- Nuclear: 0 TWh, 0% [0 GW total capacity]
- Hydro: 0 TWh, 0% [0 GW total capacity]
- Other Renewable: 0 TWh, 0% [0 GW total capacity]
- Coal: 0 MSTN (0% total U.S.)
- Natural Gas: 0 Bcf (0% total U.S.)
- Crude Oil: 0 Mbarrels (0% total U.S.)
- Ethanol: 0 Mbarrels (0% total U.S.)
Dynamics of Accidents in the Oil and Gas Industry
For more than a century, the oil & gas industry has remained one of the main contributors to the world’s economy. However, severe accidents in this sector occur routinely, resulting in fatalities and disruption.
According to a February 2022 study published in PLOS ONE [1], human error is consistently the main source of accidents in the oil and gas industry, and that explosions, fires, toxic release, and element rupture are the main catalysts for accident amplification.
The study found that chains of events play a significant role in severe accidents, consisting of feedback loops of said events, in addition to secondary events not directly identifiable yet participating in the most likely chains of events.
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Fatalities in the Oil & Gas Sector
The International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP) released its safety report for 2021 [2], and fatalities and injuries were up significantly from a year earlier.
Against the background of a 5% increase in work hours reported, the number of fatalities increased from 14 in 2020 to 20 in 2021. The 20 fatalities occurred in 15 separate incidents. The overall total recordable injury rate (fatalities, lost work day cases, restricted work day cases, and medical treatment cases) was 0.77, 10% higher than in 2020 (0.70). The overall lost time injury rate (fatalities and lost work day cases) was 0.22, unchanged from 2020.
Participating IOGP member companies reported 580 lost work day cases (injuries resulting in at least 1 day off work). Of those 580 cases, 453 incidents were contractor-related and 127 incidents were company-related.
Approximately 114 cases, or 20% of the total, were categorized as “slips and trips.” Statistics from 2020 found 99 cases, accounting for 18% of the total. “Struck by (not dropped object)” accounted for 106 cases, 18% of the total. 2020 saw 91 cases, 17% of the total.
Get a Free Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Delaware Oil Field Accident and Injury Lawyers
The personal injury lawyers at Schmidt & Clark, LLP, have experience dealing with the rights of American oilfield workers, and we are one of the only firms willing to handle oilfield workplace accidents in Delaware and throughout the entire United States.
Again, if you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an oilfield accident in Delaware, you should contact our oil field accident lawyers immediately by using the form below or calling our law firm toll-free 24 hrs/day by dialing (866) 588-0600 to schedule a free case review and legal options.
Clients may be able to recover fair compensation for medical expenses from an oil company in a lawsuit and a personal injury lawyer can help.
