Free Trial

Trial begins against company in Oklahoma oil rig explosion

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) — The wrongful death trial against a oilfield equipment contractor in connection with a January 2018 explosion and fire that killed five men in southeastern Oklahoma is underway.

The McAlester News-Capital reports that attorneys for the families of Parker Waldridge of Crescent; Matt Smith of McAlester; Roger Cunningham from Seminole; Josh Ray of Fort Worth, Texas; and Cody Risk of Wellington, Colorado, said in opening statements Tuesday that National Oilwell Varco in primarily to blame for the men's deaths when the rig exploded in Quinton.

Attorneys for the families say NOV was primarily responsible because it failed to provide proper oversight of the operation. and now “refuses any responsibility for this incident.”

Houston-based NOV argues that another company working at the site, Red Mountain Operating, LLC, was at fault and that the company’s employee on site had no responsibilities at the time of the fire and explosion.

The families have reached settlements with Red Mountain Operating; Red Mountain Energy, LLC; Patterson-UTI Drilling Company, LLC; Patterson-UTI Energy Inc.

The Jan. 22, 2018, explosion, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Tulsa, was the deadliest drilling accident since the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, killing 11 people.

Should You Invest $1,000 in Oi S.A. American Depositary Sha Right Now?

Before you consider Oi S.A. American Depositary Sha, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Oi S.A. American Depositary Sha wasn't on the list.

While Oi S.A. American Depositary Sha currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.

View The Five Stocks Here

A Beginner's Guide to Investing in Cannabis Cover

Unlock your free copy of MarketBeat's comprehensive guide to pot stock investing and discover which cannabis companies are poised for growth. Plus, you'll get exclusive access to our daily newsletter with expert stock recommendations from Wall Street's top analysts.

Get This Free Report
Like this article? Share it with a colleague.

Featured Articles and Offers

Recent Videos

3 Made in America Stocks Under $20 You Need to See!
3 Cheap Growth Stocks Set to Explode This Summer
The Next NVIDIA? Quantum Computing Stocks Set for Explosive Growth

Stock Lists

All Stock Lists

Investing Tools

Calendars and Tools

Search Headlines