WELL PAD BLAST Worker Killed In Taylor County Well Pad Blast Identified
Reported by: Associated Press
Web Producer: Heath Harrison
Reported: Feb. 17, 2013 5:25 PM EST
Updated: Feb. 17, 2013 11:15 PM EST
Eyewitness News Photo
Flemington, Taylor County
, West Virginia
A contractor has identified an employee who was killed in an explosion at an EQT natural gas well pad in Taylor County.
Central Environmental Services CEO Jeff Harper told WBOY-TV that Brian Hopkins was near two tanks when the explosion occurred on Friday.
The state Department of Environmental Protection has said the worker was attempting to transfer briny wastewater from a tank into a truck.
Harper said Hopkins hadn't begun transferring water when the explosion occurred. He says the transfer is a routine activity that the company's employees do every day.
Harper said CES is cooperating with state and federal investigators. The company also is conducting an internal investigation.
EQT spokeswoman Linda Robertson has said the accident wasn't related to drilling.
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