HOUSTON — A drilling worker alleges lack of competent employees and training caused his severe injuries from a hose valve explosion.
Rene Garcia filed a complaint Dec. 10 in Harris County District Court against Noram Drilling Company alleging negligence and other claims.
Garcia, according to his complaint, was working as an employee of ProTorque Energy on Noram Drilling's rig #34 on Sept. 16, 2022. Garcia claims that he suffered "catastrophic" injuries on Sept. 16, 2022, while working as a casing crew tong operator when the mud fill hose valve exploded.
Specifically, Garcia alleges Noram's driller assistant failed to properly communicate drilling instructions to the drilling rig crew members which caused the crew to fill the hose to the high pressure rig pumps instead of utilizing the charge pimps for fill mud and that the hose fill and valve were not rated for high pressure which caused an explosion.
Garcia claims Noram's negligence for failing to supervise its employees and not providing competent and experienced personnel, failing to ensure the compliance of safety and operational rules and not having proper equipment.
Garcia seeks monetary relief of more than $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. He is represented by B. Blue Hyatt of Lynch, Chappell & Alsup PC in Midland and F. Andino Reynal of The Reynal Law Firm in Houston.
Harris County Disrict Court case number 2022-80063