Halvorson said fire erupted after the oil rig had recently finished drilling the well. Service crews were at the location, preparing it to pump. The area director for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Bruce Beelman, said the employees were applying power to a diesel generator for lighting units on the site. OSHA is investigating, Beelman said.
Calvin Grady, 44, of New Town was transferred to the Regents Burn Center in St. Paul, Minn. He is listed in critical condition. Grady works for BOS Roustabout.
According to Associated Press Reports, Calvin Grady's mother Eleanor Fitzgerald of Billings, Mont. said her son, Calvin suffered burns on his legs and face and had a breathing tube in his throat.
Paul Berger of Williston was treated and released for his injuries the same evening of the fire. Others injured included:
€ Tom Grady, 55, of the New Town/Parshall area remained in stable condition at Trinity Hospital in Minot. He reportedly had burns on his face and neck.
€ Jody Reinisch of Ryder was discharged from the hospital.
€ Joshua Reinisch of Ryder was treated and released for his injuries.
€ Darcy Lynne of Plaza was treated, and discharged for his injuries.
€ Ted Seidler of Garrison also was discharged.
Shortly after 11 p.m., the Mountrail County Dispatch Center received a call about a large fire at an oilwell site. A second call identified the location as the Zacher 1-24H well site, about eight miles northwest of Parshal.
The Parshall Fire Department, the New Town Ambulance and the Mountrail Sheriff's Office were all dispatched to the scene.
En route to the blaze, deputies were met by two private vehicles that were transporting burn victims to a medical facility.
The deputies advised that an ambulance was on its way, and the ambulance intercepted the private vehicles on Highway 23.
Deputies arriving at the scene, were met with flames over 10 feet high, said Halvorson. A low tank, adjacent to the pit was still burning.
The Parshall Fire Department extinguished the flames with their foam units, and the flames were out shortly before midnight.
Halvorson said no evacuation was necessary because there were no residents near the site.
The men who were transported to the Mountrail County Medical Center in Stanley were also transferred to the Trinity Medical Center in Minot.
Halvorson said he has been in contact with EOG Resources officials, the owner of the well, and they stated that all personnel who were working on the site were accounted for.
He added that the well was a shut-in, and there are no safety-related issues that could impact local residents.
A spokesperson for EOG stated that EOG is saddened by the occurrence and expressed its deepest concerns to all of the families involved, according to Halvorson.
An investigation continues.
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