UNITED STATES: Following back-to-back worker injuries, including one fatality, Exxon Mobil declared a temporary “stand-down” across its U.S. shale operations last week, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The occurrences, one of which saw the second contractor fatality this year, occur as oilfield service companies are struggling to find staff to resume some operations. The COVID-19 pandemic-related job losses two years ago have resulted in a lack of skilled oilfield workers.
The stand-down comes as Exxon is being sued for negligence in numerous cases. Recently, two worker accidents at production sites managed by Exxon’s shale unit in the past few days.
This month, a worker was hurt in West Texas, and on Tuesday of last week, an Axis Energy Services repairman was slain in East Texas. A lady was crushed to death in March at another Exxon-run facility in West Texas.
“Our employees’ welfare and safety are always prioritized. When an event occurs, we increase our efforts to promote safety,” in response to inquiries regarding the stand-down, Exxon started.
The leading oil producer in the US also declared that it was actively collaborating with contractors to raise safety.
Exxon claimed that the stand-down had no impact on oil output; however, Reuters last week reported that activities had been suspended at a location because of repairs being done there after last week’s fatality.
According to an oil and gas CEO survey conducted by the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank and published this week, their operations are being hampered by a lack of trained staff.
This year, New Mexico fined XTO $2.25 million for violating the rules governing five underground injection wells. According to the state’s oil regulator, it reported 15 fires at its New Mexico operations separately. It reported 22 such events in the previous year.
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