A total of seven people were injured this past Monday in a drilling accident near Moundsville, West Virginia. Three remain in the hospital, but hospital officials say the injuries are not life threatening.

The accident occurred on Monday when Union Drilling Inc. workers hit a pocket of methane gas while sinking a natural gas well through an abandoned coal mine. Gas and environmental officials are unsure of how the methane ignited.

A spokeswoman for Chief Oil & Gas LLC, Kristi Gittens, said they are trying to move some of the equipment from the rig while the methane burns, and will try to cap the well when it is safe to approach.

Furthermore, Gittens stated, “Drilling for natural gas is not accident-free. You can’t say that about any industrial operation. But we take our role in protecting our workers, the community and the environment seriously”.

If your or someone you love has been injured in the workplace, contact the Harrisburg personal injury attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. at 610-667-7511 to learn more about your rights.