Wyoming’s chief workplace safety official has released the names of three workers he says were at the scene of a fatal oilfield explosion earlier this week north of Glenrock.

J. D. Danni is manager of the Wyoming Occupational Safety & Health Administration program. He identified the men on the scene as 55-year-old James Turner, of Double D. Welding and Fabrication of Casper, 32-year-old Llewellyn Dort and Gerardo Alatorre, no age available, both of Wild West Construction.

Danni says relatives have been notified. He says autopsies are being performed in Colorado to verify the identities.

The explosion that occurred Monday at the oil production facility owned by Tulsa-based Samson Resources Co., remains under investigation.

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The explosion involving an oil storage tank occurred at Samson Resources Company’s, Black Island Federal well site around 10 a.m.

Samson officials confirmed that the three contractors killed were from two area service companies, Wild West Construction and Double D Welding & Fabrication.

The contractors were working to bring the oil well at the site back into production.

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Samson has ceased construction work at its other facilities in the Powder River Basin until a preliminary cause can be determined.

 

The well is located on a private ranch approximately 23 miles north of Glenrock. Authorities have restricted access to the location as the investigation continues.

Bodies of the victims were taken to Colorado for autopsies and positive identification, after which authorities will provide notifications.

According to a company release the quick response by property owners and firefighters led to quick containment of the ensuing fire that involved approximately 10 acres.

Members of Samson’s Emergency Response Team are on site assisting officials from OSHA, the Converse County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshal’s Office in the investigation.

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