Oil worker dead after falling into pit in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. — An oil worker from Texas has died after falling into a pit at an oil rig location in Bismarck, North Dakota.

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Daniel Navarrete, 42, reportedly fell through an open hatch into a pit at a Nabors Industries rig Thursday, Mountrail County Sheriff Corey Bristol said, according to The Bismarck Tribune. Other workers reportedly tried to help rescue Navarrete and had even drained the pit.

Pits are usually used to collect “spent drilling fluids” as well as other materials, according to The Bismarck Tribune.

Nabors Industries spokesperson Robin Davidson told The Associated Press that Devon Energy owns and operates the site in Bismarck. Davidson also said that they are working to support Devon Energy to learn and understand what happened.

Devon Energy spokesperson Lisa Adams told the AP that they are “devastated” by Navarette’s death. Adams said Devon Energy is working with MCSO, OSHA, and Nabors. They have also shut down drilling operations.

Navarette was a contractor, according to the AP.

According to the AP, multiple other workers have died or have been injured in Mountrail County’s oil patch in the last few years. Last September, an oil rig reportedly exploded at a well site that was owned by Chord Energy. The explosion sent three people to a burn center

Mountrail County is reportedly one of the largest oil-producing counties in North Dakota. According to the AP, North Dakota is one of the country’s largest oil-producing states.

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