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 Michigan and throughout the entire United States.
A History of Michigan's Oil and Gas Industry
Michigan has an abundance of oil and natural gas located under its landscape. Since 1925, over 50,000 oil and natural gas wells have been drilled in the state. Wells in 64 Michigan counties have pumped nearly 1.25 billion barrels of oil and more than 6.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Michigan's geology provides the largest natural gas storage capacity in the United States, with 47% of the nation's population and more than half the manufacturing capacity within a 500-mile radius of Detroit.
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Economic Impact of Oil & Natural Gas in Michigan
- The oil and gas industry employs more than 8,000 Michiganians.
- The industry paid 14,000 private mineral owners over $174 million in 2004 alone.
- Oil and gas pay about $40 million in state taxes and other fees annually.
- Overall, the Michigan oil and natural gas industry is responsible for about $2 billion in economic activity each year.
Where Does Michigan Rank in Oil Production?
As of July 2022, Michigan was ranked #17 in the U.S. based on Barrels of Oil Equivalent (BOE) produced. Commercial quantities of crude oil were first found in Michigan in 1925. The state's oil production increased significantly during the 1970s when oil was produced from the reefs that ring the Michigan basin.
Those reefs accounted for 29 million of the 35 million barrels of oil produced in the state's peak production year of 1979. Since then, Michigan's crude oil production has declined to approximately 4.5 million barrels annually.
Fracking in Michigan
Fracking has been used in Michigan since the late 1980s throughout the northern lower peninsula's Atrim shale and Collingwood/Utica shale, which contain major deposits of natural gas. In 2010, the Antrim shale became the United States' 13th largest source of natural gas, with over 12,000 drilled wells.
Fatal Work Injuries in Michigan
Fatal work injuries totaled 140 in 2021 for Michigan, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Transportation incidents resulted in 47 fatal work injuries and accounted for 34% of all fatal workplace injuries in the state.
Exposure to harmful substances/environments was the 2nd-most fatal work-related event, with 26 fatalities. Falls, slips, or trips and contact with objects or equipment each resulted in 23 deaths.
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Michigan Oilfield Worker Killed After Being Struck by Equipment
An oilfield worker died in June 2016 after the operator of a boom crane failed to see the man enter an area known as the red zone, which is area workers are not supposed to enter while the drilling rig is operating, according to The Dickinson Press [1.].
A blind spot was caused by the boom when the operator of the crane picked up a pipe with the boom and lowered it onto the pipe rack, striking the victim, who was identified as Paul William Green II, 36, of Alger, Michigan. Green worked for Advanced Energy LLC of South Boardman, Michigan.
Get a Free Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Michigan Oil Field Accident and Injury Lawyers
The Personal injury protection 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 Michigan and throughout the entire United States.
Again, if you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an oilfield accident in Michigan, 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.
