Occidental Petroleum Accident Attorneys

Filing an Offshore Accident Case Against Oxy

Founded in 1920, Occidental Petroleum, now known as Oxy, is engaged in the exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and more, including the manufacture of chemicals and vinyls. It operates in several regions around the world, working on various infrastructure projects and technologies for the energy industry. Formerly Anadarko Petroleum, Oxy operates in:

One of the world's largest independent oil and gas exploration/production companies, Oxy is also one of the largest independent deepwater producers in the Gulf of Mexico. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under "OXY" and employs nearly 12,000 people. Its main competitors include ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and others.

Occidental Petroleum & the Deadliest Offshore Oil Accident

In 1988, the Piper Alpha platform in the North Sea exploded, killing 167 people within 22 minutes. It was and is the deadliest accident in the offshore oil and gas industry. Gas condensate had leaked out in great amounts before it ignited, exploded, and started oil fires. The heat this created then burst part of a gas pipeline, which created another explosion and a fireball that overtook the Occidental Petroleum-operated platform. The fire lasted for three weeks.

While the oilfield had originally set up firewalls to ensure that the most hazardous processes were conducted away from where people were positioned, the change from an oil platform to one for gas processing meant that this safe distance was eliminated. Before the disaster, Occidental Petroleum had intended to revamp the platform with necessary upgrades, but the company elected to keep the platform running instead of having a temporary shutdown. They didn't want to pause production until the necessary repairs and upgrades were made. In fact, to keep things moving, they took out a pressure release valve for maintenance and put in a temporary, untested one. Occidental Petroleum was blamed for failures in maintenance and safety processes, but no criminal charges were ever filed.

Over the course of its history, Oxy has built up a legacy of being involved in disasters of historic proportions, revealing consistent negligence when it comes to safety.

Oxy Is Not Limited to Offshore Disasters

In February 2023, East Palestine, Ohio, witnessed a catastrophic train derailment involving Norfolk Southern, carrying more than 700,000 pounds of toxic chemicals, including vinyl chloride, from chemical plants owned by OxyVinyls, which is a chemical division of Occidental Petroleum. This led to officials deciding to vent and burn the chemicals to prevent an explosion, raising serious concerns about health, the environment, and the local economy among residents.

Following the derailment, numerous lawsuits were filed by residents, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the federal government against Norfolk Southern, OxyVinyls, and other companies. These lawsuits seek accountability for the incident, alleging unsafe operations and seeking damages for the extensive impact on the community and the environment.

Offshore Injury Attorneys for Occidental Petroleum Workers

Countless workers and families have better lives and brighter futures because they called Arnold & Itkin after suffering an injury or losing a loved one. Our offshore injury lawyers have won more than $20 billion for our clients and have helped after every major maritime disaster in the past 20 years. If you were injured while working for Occidental Petroleum or any other industry giant, don't hesitate to learn your options in a free, confidential review of your case. If we can hold Oxy accountable in court, it may be possible to recover your income and medical expenses for the present and the future.

Call (888) 346-5024 today or use our short online form to schedule a free case review with an attorney.