Apache Oil Accident Attorneys
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Apache Corporation is an American petroleum and natural gas exploration company that has existed for over six decades. Founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1954, the company is now headquartered in Houston, Texas. After nearly five decades of successful operations, Apache Corporation was added to the S&P 500 and still holds a position on the prestigious list in 2018. Today, Apache Corporation is one of the largest exploration and production companies in the world. It operates in three main regions: Egypt, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The company formerly had major operations in Western Australia but sold its assets in 2015 for $2.1 billion.
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Apache in Egypt
Apache’s operations in Egypt cover 5.6 million acres through a total of 25 concessions. Operations in Egypt’s Western Desert began in Egypt in 1996. Production in Egyptian wells produced 36 percent of Apache Corporation’s oil output in 2017. Notably, Apache estimates that 69 percent of their interests in Egypt are undeveloped. It boasts that it is positioned to succeed even more with further development in the region.
Apache in the United Kingdom
In 2003, Apache Corporation bought interests in the North Sea, just off the coast of the United Kingdom. Since entering the North Sea market, the company has made numerous acquisitions in the Forties, Callater, and Beryl fields. The company is also developing operations in Seagull, Corona, and Storr discoveries. In 2018, the production in the North Sea totaled 13 percent of Apache’s oil output. The company states on its website that it expects exploration to provide future oil production in this region.
Apache in the United States
Most of Apache’s exploration and production is accomplished through its efforts in the United States. The company has major operations in the Permian Basin, Gulf of Mexico, and midcontinent regions in Oklahoma and Texas. A notable region that Apache operates in is the Eagle Ford Shale, one of the most significant American oil discoveries in the last 40 years. Operations in the United States accounted for 51% of the company’s production.
Varanus Island Pipeline Explosion
Like many other large oil exploration and production companies, Apache states that is committed to safety and environmental responsibility. In fact, the company states that safety is not negotiable on its website. By examining safety and environmental incidents involving Apache Corporation, it is possible to assess the moments in which the company may have failed to deliver on its commitments.
A pipeline caused an explosion at a gas plant operated by Apache Oil on Veranus Island, located off the Wester Australian coast. The plant was used to treat product obtained at offshore oilfields. The explosion disrupted 30 percent of the region’s energy supply and the event was devastating for the Western Australian economy.
Investigations revealed that no maintenance had been done on the pipeline for 16 years. It was a lucky coincidence that none of the plant’s 150 employees were near the location of the explosion when it occurred. After launching a legal campaign to suppress reports about the disaster, Apache Corporation escaped prosecution via a loophole when the law defined the term “pipeline” incorrectly. Apache withdrew from the region by selling all its assets three years after reports regarding the incident were made public and increased the criticism that the company experienced in the region.
