Mariner Energy is No Stranger to Oil Rig Accidents

It seemed like a terrible déjà vu this morning when it was reported that an oil rig caught fire in the Gulf of Mexico, forcing thirteen workers into the water.  The oil rig accident occurred 80 miles off the coast of Louisiana.

The rig, which is owned by Mariner Energy, was reportedly not producing oil at the time of the explosion.  MarketWatch.com stated that the workers were painting and sandblasting when the fire erupted.  All of the workers have been rescued and it appears that there were no fatal injuries.

Many people are asking questions about Mariner Energy - what does this company do and what is its safety record?

According to Mariner Energy’s website, the company “is one of the leading independent oil and gas exploration and production companies in the Gulf of Mexico.” Approximately 85 percent of the company’s production occurs offshore.  Mariner Energy has been performing deepwater exploration and development projects since 1996.

The Houston Chronicle did some digging and discovered that Mariner Energy is no stranger to oil rig accidents.  The blog post, "Mariner involved in nine recent Gulf accidents, four with violations," gives a startling account of the company’s accident history.  Nine accidents have occurred from 2006 to 2009.  It appears as though at least three of these accidents resulted in injuries, ranging from burns to an eye injury.  Four of the accidents involved violations.

Our thoughts go out to the workers involved in the recent Mariner Energy accident, as they recover from this incident.

If you have been hurt in an offshore oil rig explosion, order a free copy of my book, Insider's Guide to Winning Your Maritime Injury Case.   You can also contact our office for a free, confidential consultation by calling 877.724.7800.