#United States #Santa Fe #Arnold & Itkin #New Mexico Oil Well #Flash Fire Incident

Lawsuit Filed by Arnold & Itkin After Catastrophic Oil Well Fire

Arnold & Itkin LLP has taken a significant step in legal action on behalf of a mechanic who endured life-altering injuries stemming from a devastating flash fire at an oil and gas wellsite in New Mexico. The lawsuit, filed on January 8, 2026, in the First Judicial District Court of Santa Fe County, accuses various defendants from the energy and manufacturing sectors of negligence, premises liability, and product liability.

Incident Overview

The tragic incident occurred on July 11, 2024, when the mechanic, employed by Kodiak Gas Services, was called back to the Seawolf 1H wellsite in Lea County after completing a grueling 12-hour shift. His task involved replacing a damaged wiring harness and valve caused by an earlier fire. While testing a gas compression system from an elevated catwalk, a flash fire erupted due to a gas leak from a faulty metal-braided hose. Desperate to escape the flames, the worker jumped from the platform, sustaining severe burns to his hands, neck, and face, along with a traumatic brain injury from the fall.

Legal Proceedings

The lawsuit outlines a grim narrative of negligence on various fronts. It names five parties from the energy and manufacturing sectors as defendants, including Targa Resources LLC and Targa Northern Delaware, LLC, which allegedly operated and controlled the wellsite. Also implicated is William Pierce, who serves as the designated company representative for Targa Northern Delaware, LLC. In addition, equipment manufacturers Caterpillar, Inc. and Custom Compression Systems, LLC face serious charges regarding the equipment design and functionality, which the lawsuit claims contributed to the dangerous conditions at the site.

Allegations of Negligence and Product Liability

According to the legal complaint, the gas compression system posed significant risks by using pressurized natural gas instead of compressed air for initiating its diesel engine— a choice deemed perilous by the lawsuit. It goes on to state that the defective metal braided hose led directly to the gas leak and the ensuing fire, demonstrating failures in various safety protocols.

Arnold & Itkin's assertions of negligence highlight several critical breaches, including:

• - Failure to maintain functional equipment
• - Lack of adherence to lockout/tagout procedures during repairs
• - Insufficient hazard assessments prior to work assignments
• - Inadequate supervision of operations
• - Lack of warning regarding known gas leak dangers

In terms of premises liability, the suit accuses Targa Resources LLC and Targa Northern Delaware, LLC of controlling the worksite but failing to mitigate the hazardous conditions resulting from the faulty compression system. Against Caterpillar, Inc. and Custom Compression Systems, LLC, the complaint alleges product liability on several fronts, including:

• - Marketing defects regarding warnings about gas leak risks and proper safety protocols
• - Design defects stemming from the dangerous decision to use pressurized natural gas
• - Manufacturing defects related to the faulty hose component

The lawsuit demands punitive damages against all defendants, asserting that they acted with reckless disregard for the safety of workers by maintaining defective equipment and allowing repair work near known hazards without implementing essential safety measures.

Commitment to Justice

Legal representation by Arnold & Itkin, led by attorneys Roland Christensen and Alec Paradowski, in conjunction with local counsel from Durham, Pittard & Spalding, underscores the commitment to seeking justice on behalf of the injured mechanic. “Oil and gas workers are around combustible materials day in and day out, and the risk of fires is known throughout the industry,” said Mr. Christensen. “Our team will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice for our client.”

About Arnold & Itkin LLP

Arnold & Itkin LLP is a reputable personal injury law firm in New Mexico, focusing on representing victims of maritime disasters, oilfield accidents, and catastrophic injuries. The firm boasts an impressive history, having secured over $20 billion in verdicts and settlements nationwide, including some of the highest awards for work accidents in U.S. history.