Underground gas or oil deposits may be under tremendous pressure. When a drilling rig enters such a deposit a blowout may occur.
Hazards of a blowout to the oil rig:
(1) physical damage to the oil rig
(2) fire
Hazards of a blowout to workers:
(1) deafness from the explosion
(2) inhalation injury
(3) chemical exposure
(4) blast injury
(5) burns
(6) damage to eyes
Hazards of oil or other chemicals being deposited over a wide area:
(1) contamination of ground water
(2) toxic effects on humans, animals and wild life
Economic costs of a blowout:
(1) economic loss of lost oil or gas
(2) damage to equipment
(3) environmental cleanup
(4) personal injury
Blowouts are usually prevented by a blowout prevention system.
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Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
