Central Texas oil well blowout claims third

A third contractor who was severely burned in a fiery explosion at an oil well site last Wednesday in Burleson County has died, raising the death toll to three the site’s owner, Chesapeake Energy, said Monday in a brief update.

“Our thoughts and our prayers remain with those impacted. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation,” the company said.

Employees of Chesapeake contractors C.C. Forbes and Eagle Pressure Control were performing major maintenance operations on the well Wednesday when the blowout occurred.

One of the workers died at the scene.

He was identified Friday in a filing seeking a temporary restraining order against Chesapeake as Windell Beddingfield.

His mother, Linda Milanovich, filed the suit seeking the temporary restraining order and temporary injunction against the company in 335th State district Court in Burleson County.

Three others, all severely burned, were flown to hospitals in Austin and Houston.

One of the three died Thursday evening.

Chesapeake announced the third death late Monday morning.

No further details were released.

None of the workers has been officially identified.

The blowout was reported at around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Wendl and Daniel H 1 H well in Burleson County along County Road 127 east of Deanville.

“First responders and oilfield emergency response specialist Boots & Coots are on location,” the company said Thursday.

Boots & Coots is a 40-year-old company founded by two veterans of the Red Adair Company, made famous in the 1968 movie “Hellfighters,” which starred John Wayne.

No evacuations were ordered after the blowout, but County Road 127 was temporarily closed to traffic.