Worker killed in explosion, fire near well pad in Ohio

A fire continues to burn in Noble County, Ohio, near a Consol Energy Inc. well pad after an explosion and fire Wednesday afternoon killed a Blue Racer Midstream contractor while work was being done on a condensate line leading from the well.

The name of the electrical contract worker, a Virginia resident, was not disclosed in a statement by Noble County Sheriff Stephen S. Hannum. No one else was hurt in the 4:15 p.m. Wednesday accident, which occurred on Blue Racer Midstream property next to the well pad.

Hannum said one fire was quickly contained, but a second, which he termed "small but dangerous," continues to burn and is being monitored by emergency officials, Blue Racer employees and the Ohio Fire Marshal's office.

"We are asking for a no-fly zone in the immediate area of the fire," Hannum said in a statement. A Blue Racer Midstream spokeswoman had no further details about the fire other than Hannum's statement.

The fire was located in northwest Marion Township, about 50 miles west of Wheeling, W.Va., between Interstates 70 and 77. The well pad is operated by Consol (NYSE: CNX), but the skid where the accident occurred, and the lines, are operated by Blue Racer Midstream.

" While a full investigation into this fatal accident is ongoing, it is our understanding that the incident occurred as pump upgrades where being performed by Blue Racer Midstream. The production wells on site and related pipeline infrastructure at this location were immediately shut-in and remain secure," Consol said in a statement Thursday.

Said Blue Racer Midstream in its own statement: "Safety is our first concern. With that in mind, we will work closely and diligently with all of the proper authorities as they investigate the accident."

Paul J. Gough is digital producer at the Pittsburgh Business Times. Contact him at pgough@bizjournals.com or 412-208-3827. You can also follow him on Twitter.

Sam Kusic covers energy for the Pittsburgh Business Times.