Midland County produces more oil than any other county in Texas, but that production often comes with a devastating human cost. Midland consistently ranks among the most dangerous places in the country for oilfield workers, with more serious injuries and fatalities than anywhere else in Texas or the U.S.
While overall oilfield accidents have declined nationwide in recent years, Midland and its surrounding oil hubs have seen a 36% increase in serious oilfield injuries since 2022. In 2024 alone, more than three dozen severe injuries were reported across the Midland-Odessa region—including 18 in Midland itself. Tragically, at least two oilfield workers lost their lives.
What makes these numbers even more troubling is that most of these accidents were entirely preventable—caused by companies that put production and profits ahead of worker safety.
Below, we look at some of the biggest oilfield accidents in Midland history. Read on to learn how our undefeated Midland oilfield accident lawyers fight to hold oil companies accountable and help injured workers and their families recover the maximum compensation they deserve.
Major Oilfield Disasters and Fatal Incidents in the Midland-Odessa Area
The Midland-Odessa region has long been one of the busiest and most dangerous oil-producing areas in the country. While some oilfield accidents make headlines for their scale and devastation, many more never make the news at all, leaving families to pick up the pieces alone after tragedies that were entirely preventable.
Here are some of the most serious oilfield disasters and fatal incidents ever reported in Midland and the surrounding areas.
Propetro Services Pressurized Equipment Rupture, January 2025
One worker was killed and two more seriously injured when a pressurized line carrying about 9,000 psi detached from a fracking unit at a site operated by ProPetro Services in Reeves County, roughly 100 miles southwest of Midland. Early reports suggest the rupture was caused by equipment failure or improper pressure control—both entirely preventable with proper safety protocols and maintenance.
Navitas Midstream & Kinder Morgan Pipeline Explosions, August 2018
A series of explosions involving Navitas Midstream and Kinder Morgan pipelines near Midland killed one person and injured six others, including four pipeline workers and two firefighters responding to a reported natural gas leak. Investigations pointed to failure to properly isolate and manage the leak before attempting repairs—a preventable scenario with better hazard control.
Parsley Energy Well Explosion, May 2015
Three pulling unit workers—all from the same family—were killed in a well explosion near Rankin, about 40 miles south of Midland. They were performing maintenance on an existing well owned by Midland-based Parsley Energy. OSHA later cited Parsley for multiple safety violations, concluding that the explosion could have been prevented with proper well control procedures and pressure monitoring.
Aghorn Facility Hydrogen Sulfide Exposure, October 2019
A worker and his wife were both killed by hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) exposure at an Aghorn Operating water‑flood station in Odessa. Investigators later found that gas detection monitors were not working at the time of the incident, leaving the worker unaware of the deadly, invisible gas leak. Tragically, when the worker failed to return home, his wife went to check on him and was also fatally exposed.
Oilfield Tanker Crash, January 2020
A pick up truck and oilfield tanker collided on Farm-to-Market Road 1208, just east of Midland, killing both drivers. This was one of several deadly oilfield-related vehicle crashes in Midland County that year. While specific crash details are limited, oilfield traffic accidents in the region are often linked to driver fatigue, speeding, or poor vehicle maintenance—known hazards in the West Texas oilfield trucking industry.
Alon Refinery Explosion, February 2008
Four people were injured when an explosion occurred at a gas processing plant operated by Alon USA near Big Spring, about 40 miles northeast of Midland. The blast, which was so large it triggered evacuations in the surrounding community, was attributed to equipment failure and lack of proper maintenance — both of which could have been prevented with more stringent safety protocols.
At Least 34 Midland-Odessa Oilfield Fatalities Since 2017
In addition to the major disasters listed above, dozens more oilfield workers in the Midland-Odessa area have lost their lives in recent years — not just on rigs, but in accidents involving heavy machinery, pressurized equipment, toxic exposure, and oilfield trucks. In 2024 alone, Midland County recorded 12 fatal truck crashes resulting in 13 deaths, several involving oilfield vehicles.
Since 2017, OSHA has reported more than 34 oilfield-related fatalities across Midland-Odessa and its surrounding Permian Basin towns of Big Spring, Garden City, and Stanton.
Recent OSHA-reported oilfield fatalities included:
- Fatal Electrocution, January 2024: A worker was electrocuted after coming into contact with a forklift that had struck overhead power lines.
- Boom and Bucket Struck-By, October 2022: While performing oil and gas support work, a worker was struck in the head by a boom and bucket, sustaining fatal lacerations and skull fractures.
- Oilfield Truck Fatality, November 2022: A truck driver was fatally crushed by his trailer after leaving the rig in drive while attempting to free it from loose sand using a wooden wedge.
- Forklift Load Accident, December 2020: At an Odessa oil and gas site, a worker was killed when an unsecured load fell from a forklift. OSHA later determined the forklift operator had not been properly trained in powered industrial truck (PIT) operations.
- Winch and Cable Fatality, May 2017: A worker stringing cable for a drill rig in Midland County was caught on a winch and killed.
While every oilfield accident is unique, one thing remains the same: every single one of these tragedies was preventable. Time after time, these fatal accidents have been linked to the same common causes: poor training, long hours and fatigue, faulty equipment, OSHA safety violations, lack of hazard awareness, and companies putting production over people.
At Zehl & Associates, we’ve spent decades uncovering these preventable safety failures, holding oil and gas companies fully accountable when they refuse to prioritize workers’ well-being over profits, and securing record-setting verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured workers and their families.
What To Do Immediately After an Oilfield Accident
The decisions you make in the moments after a serious oilfield accident — including the lawyer you hire — can impact the rest of your life. The company may promise to “take care of you,” but their only priority is protecting their bottom line, often by pressuring you into accepting far less than what you truly deserve and pushing you back to work before you’re fully recovered.
You have one opportunity to secure the compensation needed for medical bills, lost income, and your long-term care—and time is critical.
Here’s what you should do right away:
- Stop work immediately and report your injury as soon as you’re able. Don’t delay, as early reporting is vital to protect your rights.
- See a doctor you trust—not the company’s doctor. You’re not obligated to see a workers’ comp or company-appointed physician, who often prioritize limiting the company’s costs over your care. Choose an independent medical specialist focused on your full recovery.
- Never give recorded statements, sign documents, or accept money outside of your paycheck before consulting an experienced oilfield accident lawyer. Insurance and company representatives move fast to restrict your options—often trying to limit you to workers’ compensation benefits, which will only cover a fraction of your lost wages and typically exclude future medical care, pain and suffering, or lost earning capacity, especially in catastrophic injury cases.
- Reach out to Zehl & Associates as soon as possible. Our undefeated Midland oilfield injury lawyers will clearly explain your rights, answer your questions, and guide you through your best legal options. Once hired, we’ll immediately connect you with top medical experts nationwide tailored to your injury—and cover your medical bills and reasonable living expenses while your case moves forward so you can concentrate on what matters most. From day one, our goal is simple: fight for the full compensation you deserve, while standing by you every step of the way.
With Billions recovered and decades of experience fighting oil and gas companies that cut corners on safety, training, and equipment, we don’t just pursue justice—we never back down until we’ve secured the maximum compensation our clients deserve and forced the company to make the changes needed to prevent this from happening to another worker.
How We Can Fight For You After an Oilfield Accident
After an oilfield accident, injured workers and their families are often left to face immense physical, emotional, and financial hardships alone ——all while the oil company, its insurers, and lawyers do everything they can to avoid responsibility and pay far less than what you truly deserve.
That’s why you need the best oilfield accident attorneys you can find — a team with the resources and experience to stand up to the largest oil and gas companies in the world and not only win, but set records. At Zehl & Associates, we have a proven track record of holding oil and gas giants fully accountable and securing the largest oilfield recoveries in history.
We know exactly how these companies operate after an accident—and we don’t let them deny responsibility or shift the blame. From day one, we do whatever it takes to recover the justice and full compensation you deserve.
How we go above and beyond:
- Connecting you with top medical specialists across Texas and the Gulf Coast to ensure you receive the best possible care
- Helping cover reasonable living expenses while your case is pending
- Providing around-the-clock support for you and your family—answering your questions, guiding you through every step, and fighting for your future
- Taking immediate action to recover and preserve critical evidence before it disappears
- Working with the nation’s leading oilfield safety experts to expose corporate safety failures
- Using our deep expertise in OSHA, API, and industry safety standards to hold the company fully accountable
- Never settling for less than the maximum compensation possible
- Preparing every single case for trial—so if the company refuses to fully compensate our client, they must face us in court, where we’ve never lost a case
Oil and gas companies throughout West Texas and the Permian Basin know our reputation. They’ve seen what happens when we take a case to trial—and they know the risk they face if they refuse to take full responsibility.
We’re proud to currently represent multiple oilfield workers injured in separate rig accidents across Texas. If you or your loved one was seriously injured or tragically killed in an oilfield accident, we’re ready to stand up, fight, and win for you too.
Undefeated Midland Oil Rig Accident Lawyers:
(432) 220-0000 for a Free Consult
With Billions won and having successfully represented over 1,000 oilfield workers across the Permian Basin, our Undefeated Midland Oilfield Accident Lawyers have repeatedly secured the largest oilfield verdicts and settlements in history, including the #1 Oilfield Burn Injury Settlement in U.S. History. We don’t just win for injured oilfield workers — we set records.
If you or a loved one were injured in an oilfield accident, contact us today for a Free Consultation at (432) 220-0000 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Form.
We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights and options, and provide you with the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.
All consultations are free and completely confidential, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.