Greeley oil field worker dies after gas pipeline fire
November 22, 2017
Davis Bonner/For The Tribune |A medical helicopter departs the scene of a fire at an oil and gas drilling site where three workers were injured Thursday afternoon. The incident occured just west of the Weld County road 71 and Colo. 392 intersection, 10 miles east of Galeton.
An oil field worker died late Tuesday after sustaining injuries from a gas pipeline fire Thursday afternoon, according to a release from the Weld County Coroner's office.
The worker was identified as 61-year-old George Cottingham of Greeley in the release. Cottingham was transported to North Colorado Medical Center's Burn Center after the fire on a PDC Energy site about 10 miles east of Galeton.
Two others injured in the fire were taken to North Colorado Medical Center, according to Fire Chief James Dilka. No information was released Wednesday about the two others who were injured.
"Preliminary information suggests that this was an industrial accident, and the scene is being turned over to Briggsdale Fire for further investigation," Weld County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Matt Turner said in a news release.
Though the well site belongs to PDC Energy, the injured workers were doing routine maintenance on a DCP Midstream pipeline. One of the workers was a DCP employee and the other two were contract workers, according to a DCP spokeswoman.
Dilka confirmed a flashover injured the workers and damaged two company trucks. Fire crews had the fire contained within about 15 minutes, according to Dilka.
According to the coroner's release, the final manner and cause of Cottingham's death awaits autopsy and lab results.
Agencies are continuing an investigation of the fire's origin.
PDC Energy is an exploration and production company headquartered in Denver, Colorado focused on value-added organic growth through active horizontal drilling programs and bolt-on acquisitions in its core areas. PDC's operations include production, development, exploration and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids (“NGLs”). PDC’s portfolio is comprised of the Wattenberg Field in Colorado, the Delaware Basin in West Texas and the Utica Shale in Ohio. The Company’s total 2016 net production increased approximately 44% year-over-year to 22.2 million barrels of oil equivalent ("MMBoe"), which was derived primarily from the Wattenberg Field, and consisted of 61% crude oil and NGLs, and 39% natural gas.
As of year-end 2016, the Company had proved reserves of 341, million barrels of oil equivalent ("MMBoe"), and owned an interest in approximately 2,900 gross productive wells. PDC has a very large inventory of predictable, high-value horizontal locations in the Wattenberg Field (approximately 1,800) that offer significant organic development and long-term growth opportunities. Additionally, the Company has identified 785 horizontal locations in the Delaware Basin through its recent acquisitions.
What Is the Midstream Industry?
Most natural gas in the U.S. must be processed before it reaches the marketplace (companies) and end-users (people like you). Midstream is the link between natural gas being produced at a wellhead and then filling society’s need for energy and by-products.
Where do we fit in? If you take a hot shower, heat your home or use anything made from rubber, plastics or synthetics, we were part of providing it. If you save on heating or cooling costs through home insulation, we help make it possible. If you have cables running through your home or office, you benefit from the energy we provide.
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GREELEY, Colo. — An oil field worker who was among three people injured in a gas pipeline fire last week died Tuesday night, the Weld County Coroner’s Office said.
George Cottingham, 61 of Greeley, was taken to North Colorado Medical Center after the fire about 10 miles east of Galeton on Thursday.
The final manner and cause of his death are awaiting autopsy and laboratory results, the coroner’s office said.
One DCP Midstream employee and two contractors were performing routine maintenance when the fire broke out on a PDC Energy site.
The workers were near a DCP pipeline at the time of the fire. Two company trucks also burned.
The names and conditions of the other two workers have not been released. The cause of the fire remains under investigation
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Workers burned at oil site were doing routine maintenance
Posted 9:24 am, November 18, 2017, by Associated Press
Three workers were injured at a Weld County oil site on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017.
GREELEY, Colo. — Authorities say three workers were performing routine maintenance when they were injured in a fire at an oil site in northern Colorado.
The Greeley Tribune reports one DCP Midstream employee and two contractors were burned in the fire east of Galeton on Thursday afternoon. Their names and conditions have not been released.
Briggsdale Fire Chief James Dilka says the workers were near a DCP pipeline when the fire broke out. Two company trucks also were burned.
Investigators have not said what caused the fire, which is being classified as an industrial accident.
The well site is owned by PDC Energy Corp.
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WELD COUNTY, Colo. -- Three maintenance workers were hurt at an oil site fire in Weld County on Thursday afternoon.
It happened about 3:30 p.m. in the area of Highway 392 and Weld County Road 71 northeast of Greeley, the Weld County Sheriff's Office said.
Two male patients were airlifted to a hospital and another was taken by ambulance to be treated for various levels of burns, the sheriff's office said.
The conditions of the three workers were not released.
The sheriff's office called it an industrial accident and said the Briggsdale Fire Department was leading the investigation.