1 dead after tank explosion in Moffat County
Posted: 01/04/2013
Last Updated:
138 days ago
CRAIG, Colo. - 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, or fracking, involves blasting pressurized water, chemicals and sand into underground rock formations to free oil and natural gas.
The Craig Daily Press reports the explosion was reported at a rig maintained by Axia Energy, which didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment late Thursday.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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