Colorado
1 dead after tank explosion in Moffat County
Posted: Jan 3, 2013 6:57 PM by AP posted by Siera Santos
CRAIG, Colo. (AP) - One person has died after an explosion at an oil rig site north of Craig in Moffat County.
Sheriff's investigator Jeremy Ashton says a tank that held water left over from hydraulic fracturing exploded Thursday morning. Ashton says investigators suspect the person who died was using a propane heater to thaw frozen valves. He says the explosion may have been caused by residual oil in the tank.
Hydraulic fracturing involves blasting pressurized water, chemicals and sand into underground rock formations to free oil and natural gas.
The Craig Daily Press (http://bit.ly/UiJfQX) reports the explosion was reported at a rig maintained by Axia Energy, which didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment late Thursday.
___
Information from: Craig Daily Press, http://www.craigdailypress.com
Photo by Gary Cole
As Seen On News 5
