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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 Hawaii and throughout the entire United States.
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Is There Oil in Hawaii?
There is no oil or gas activity in Hawaii due to limited crude oil and natural gas reserves; however, the state does refine crude oil into petroleum products. Hawaii has 1 crude oil refinery in the Honolulu port area on Oahu that can process nearly 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
How Does Hawaii Get its Oil and Gas?
Most of Hawaii’s oil is imported from foreign countries. The state still depends on fossil fuel for transportation and electricity generation.
Liquid fossil fuels are transported across the Pacific Ocean, most of which comes from foreign countries, and are offloaded in waters off Oʻahu before being refined, repackaged, and barged to other Hawaiian islands. This results in a perpetually shaky energy situation that relies on factors outside Hawaii’s control.
Hawaii’s Energy Consumption
Hawaii’s energy consumption is dominated by oil, which provided 83% of the state’s energy consumption in 2016 (down from 85.0% in 2008 and 99.7% in 1960). Other sources in 2016 included coal (5.6%) and renewable energy (11.2%). In 2017, sources of renewable power included:
| Distributed PV | 33.50% |
| Utility-scale PV | 4.90% |
| Wind | 26.60% |
| Hydro | 3.60% |
| Geothermal | 10.50% |
| Biofuels | 1.60% |
| Biomass | 19.20% |
Hawaii Moves to Ban Coal, Offshore Oil & Gas Exploration
Senator Tulsi Gabbard introduced bills SB 259 in 2019 and SB 2780 in 2020, which would both prohibit offshore drilling for oil or natural gas in Hawaiian waters and prohibit issuing permits to pursue any such drilling operations. To gain access to the area, a would-be ocean driller would need to spend millions on state permits, and even if approved, would get nothing in return, as there are no oil and gas reserves in state waters.
However, the bills would not regulate charcoal, biochar, or coal in general. They only deal with coal use that is currently regulated. SB 2780 would ban the Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Health from approving any new, modified, or renewed permit for a regulated use of coal.
Hawaii Reports Surge in Workplace Fatalities
The Hawaii Department of Labor & Industrial Relations (DLIR) in December 2021 announced that at least 7 fatalities occurred in the state during 2021 among 23 major incidents. The fatalities included:
- January 8 (Oahu): worker struck by company vehicle.
- March 15 (Maui): aviation worker fell off a high truck platform.
- July 19 (Oahu): truck mounted boom fell on a repair worker who died from injuries.
- August 13 (Oahu): pallet being unloaded from a container fell on a worker who died from injuries.
- August 30 (Maui): worker working on a public highway was struck by vehicle.
- December 8 (Hawaii): worker was struck on head by company equipment.
- December 13 (Kauai): worker died while operating machinery that rolled over.
“This surge in serious industrial accidents is a harsh reminder for employers and workers to think about safety when taking any work actions,” said DLIR Director Anne Perreira-Eustaquio. “We are hopeful that by employers and workers keeping safety and health at the top of mind that the number of fatalities and serious workplace injuries will decline in the future.”
FAQs
Can I file a lawsuit if I am injured while working in an oil field?
Yes, if you are injured while working in an oil field, you may be able to file a lawsuit. You could file a workers’ compensation claim and, in cases involving negligence by a third party, a personal injury lawsuit to seek additional compensation.
How does an oil field injury affect my ability to work?
An oil field injury can significantly impact your ability to work, potentially resulting in temporary or permanent disability. This can affect your ability to perform physical tasks, lead to lost wages, and may necessitate a career change if you cannot return to your previous position.
What are the long-term impacts of an oil field injury?
Long-term impacts of an oil field injury can include chronic pain, physical disability, emotional distress, financial hardship due to medical expenses and lost wages, and reduced quality of life. Some injuries may require long-term rehabilitation or permanent lifestyle adjustments.
Get a Free Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Hawaii 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 Hawaii and throughout the entire United States.
Again, if you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an oilfield accident in Hawaii, 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.
To contact us for a free review of your potential case, please fill out the form below or call us toll free 24 hrs/day by dialing: