After two oil field workers who were burned when their equipment allegedly exploded in their faces were sued, two Wyoming energy companies handling the site argued that the workers were more at fault for causing their own injuries.

Eric Vollmar of Wyoming and Andrew Simpkins of Texas on June 10 Energy company Anschutz Exploration Corp. and natural gas company Certarus Ltd. were sued., Both are registered in Wyoming.

Men accuse companies of causing negligence Two explosions at fracking facility in Carbon County. According to court documents, both explosions occurred six weeks apart between December 2023 and January of this year.

“It was a giant fireball that got us,” Vollmar told Cowboy State Daily in June.

The men also sued chemical company EZ Chem, but later asked the judge to drop that company from the case.

No Control Over This

Now both Certarus and Anschutz say the men’s injuries were caused by people or factors beyond their control.

“Plaintiffs’ negligence or fault far outweighs that of Defendant Certarus; negligence or fault is specifically denied,” Certarus Ltd’s response filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming on November 5 said. “The sole and immediate cause of the injuries and damages that (workers) complain about is due to the negligence or fault of third parties. … Certarus had neither control nor the right to control.”

Anschutz’s response, filed Aug. 26, includes similar statements but also questions why the men did not file a lawsuit against their employer, HP Oilfield Services LLC.

HP Oilfield was working in the field, Certarus provided natural gas, and Anschutz owned and managed the facility, according to court documents.

“(The workers) were not on the property at the specific invitation of Anschutz, who relied on HP Oilfield Services LLC to monitor his employees for safety,” Anschutz says.S. response to the case. “Plaintiffs’ injuries did not result from any terrain-related condition but rather resulted from their negligence and that of their employer, HP Oilfield Services.”

In this case, no lawsuit is filed against HP Oil Field. The company did not immediately respond to email and voicemail requests for comment.

That case is scheduled for a pretrial conference on Dec. 2, according to a filing filed Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson.

‘I’m So Lucky To Be Alive’

Vollmar was working on December 17, 2023, On the fracking site. A massive propane tank, which he estimated contained about 3,000 gallons of fuel, was found along with a hot box and a “bundle of coils” behind it, Vollmar told Cowboy State Daily in June.

He was walking down the stairs towards the equipment when he heard a whistling sound.

He said the sound was likely due to gas swelling in a line, eventually penetrating the heater or “hot box” and igniting a stream of gas, causing an explosion.

A giant rising ball hit him, he said, adding that he found himself engulfed in flames.

“Thank God the propane tank did not explodehe said.

In his interview, he said the water crew at the scene later told Vollmar that they believed they had watched him die.

His beard and long hair were covered in smoke.

The petition alleges that Vollmar suffered burns on his face, back, neck, hands and other parts of his body, and that this was caused by the excessive pressure caused by the petroleum natural gas provided by Certarus.

S.A similar explosion in the same area six weeks later affected Simpkins much worse, Vollmar said.

While Simpkins was working on an 18-wheeler, the broken heater on the rig “suddenly exploded” as he was returning to the cab, burning his face, back, neck, hands and other parts of his body, the complaint said.

Vollmar said Simpkins’ backpack was melted and his hands were burned, among other “serious” injuries.

The complaint also attributes this explosion to excessive pressure and blames Anschutz for alleged mismanagement of the field in both incidents.

“I think a lot of things could happen there,” Vollmar said. “We’re both so lucky to be alive.”

Clair McFarland can be reached at [email protected].