Oil Rig Worker Killed in River Barge Accident

Posted in Barge Accidents,Louisiana Maritime News on March 16, 2011

BAYOU SORREL, LA – An oil rig worker was killed on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 when a drilling rig collapsed onto a river barge in Bayou Sorrel, Louisiana.

River barge drilling rig used for river oil drilling operations.

Bayou Sorrel is located in Iberville Parish, Louisiana in the south-central part of the state, about 30 miles southwest of Baton Rouge and about 13 miles southwest of Plaquemine.

The deceased oil rig worker was identified as 30 year-old Skye Sonnier from New Iberia, LA. Sonnier was working as a crew member in the drilling rig operation and was pinned between the drilling rig and a mud tank in the accident.

The accident occurred just before 4:00 p.m. in the Grand River Dikes area of Iberville Parish. The accident happened during a drilling operation conducted by the Estis Well Service, of New Iberia. No details on the drilling operation are available.

Location of oil drilling rig river barge accident in Bayou Sorrel, LA where one oil rig worker was killed on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at about 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon.

A rescue operation began when Deputies were called to the scene, but when they arrived, they discovered that the victim had already died. Firefighters from the White Castle volunteer fire department and Bayou Sorrel fire department spent hours trying to extract the victim, who was trapped under a large, steel box which had fallen on Sonnier in addition to the drilling rig toppling over. Firefighters spent hours cutting through the steel box to reach Sonnier. They eventually freed his body at 10:30 p.m., Wednesday evening.

According to reports, there were 5 other drilling rig workers who managed to escape unharmed.

The drilling rig belongs to Estis Well Service, out of New Iberia, Louisiana.

The accident is currently under investigation.