Offshore Worker Dies on Natural Gas Platform

An offshore worker died after falling through a deck opening on a non-producing offshore natural gas platform

The accident occurred on Monday, April 18, 2011. The seaman was an employee of Alliance Oilfield Services. At the time of the accident, he was working on a Hilcorp Energy platform located in 375 feet of water about 129 miles off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Hilcorp natural gas platform is no longer active and has not produced natural gas since 2008. The injured seaman was one of the rig workers involved in permanently sealing its wells. The accident is still under investigation.

Offshore oil and gas platform workers have dangerous jobs. They are considered seamen under Jones Act law and are offered all the protections of federal maritime law. If injured, they are entitled to benefits including maintenance and cure. Families of deceased offshore oil and gas workers may be able to collect compensation under the Death on the High Seas Act.

To learn more, contact a Louisiana maritime law attorney at The Young Firm.