Oil and gas workers face dangers

Energy & Environment

The Big Story

Oil and gas workers face dangers

The push to bolster fossil fuel production is heightening concerns among oil field workers and first responders about the mounting dangers facing workers.

Jose Gonzalez* wore no mask, despite the toxic chemicals he worked with in the oil field.

“One leak, and no one will hear from you again,” he said.

He shrugged. At 31, with three children at home, he faced constant risks in his job as a truck driver in the Permian Basin, both from the chemicals and the relentless pace of the roads where he and other drivers pull 24-hour shifts driving the ingredients and products of fracking — sand, cement, fracking fluid, produced water, oil — from wellhead to storage depot and back again.

It didn’t pay, he said, “to think too deeply about the danger.”

The Permian Basin, a region spanning west Texas and eastern New Mexico, is the once and future heart of the greatest oil and gas boom in American history, a frenzy of production triggered by the introduction of new technologies like fracking.

The boom has marked a return to prominence — and prosperity — for a region whose resources once helped the Allies win World War II but that was abandoned by major oil companies decades later amid the great bust of the 1980s.

For President Trump and Texas’s Republican leadership, that outflow offers a prospect of American “energy dominance.”

But the region’s prospering oil industry is all too frequently shadowed by injury and death: About 30 Texas workers per year, more than two per month, die of poison gas, explosions, blunt force trauma or vehicle crashes. In October, a Permian Basin worker was engulfed in flames. In December, another was killed by flying debris after a pressure valve explosion.

* The drivers’ names have been changed for the purpose of anonymity.

Read more of this part one in a four-part series from my colleague Saul Elbein at TheHill.com.

Welcome to The Hill’s Energy & Environment newsletter, I'm Rachel Frazin — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

Essential Reads

How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future:

Fired climate scientist: NOAA workforce reductions won’t make anyone safer

Tom Di Liberto, a former public affairs specialist and climate scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), said in a Monday interview that the drastic cuts to the federal workforce at NOAA won’t “make anybody safer.”

Full Story

OPEC+ will start long-delayed oil production hike

A group of oil-producing countries known as OPEC+ will proceed with a long-delayed hike in oil production.

Full Story

Trump: Ukraine mineral deal not dead, but Zelensky ‘should be more appreciative’

President Trump said Monday a proposed economic deal between the U.S. and Ukraine was still on the table, but he argued Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky needed to be more “appreciative” of U.S. support.

Full Story

Trump orders probe into lumber imports ahead of possible tariffs

President Trump signed a Saturday executive order requesting an evaluation of lumber imports, which he described as a “critical” manufacturing industry “essential” to national security, economic strength and the industrial resilience of the United States.

Full Story

In Other News

Branch out with a different read from The Hill:

Trump: 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico will go into effect Tuesday

President Trump said Monday that the 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico will officially go into effect Tuesday, announcing there is no room for dealmaking to delay them again.

Full Story

What We're Reading

News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics:

DOGE moves to cancel NOAA leases on key weather buildings (Axios)
New York Advances Gas Ban, Sidelines Other Green Building Rules (New York Focus)

On Tap

Upcoming news themes and events we're watching:

The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on the future of FEMA.
The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on experimental populations under the Endangered Species Act.

What Others are Reading

Two key stories on The Hill right now:

O’Malley: DOGE cuts could soon trigger Social Security system ‘collapse’

Martin O’Malley, the former commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), said Monday the recent cuts made by tech billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the agency could result in the “collapse” of the Social Security system “within the next 30 to 90 days.” Read more

Canadian premier says he will cut off electricity exports to US ‘with a smile on my face’

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday he is prepared to cut off electricity exports to the U.S. if President Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods go through. Read more

Opinions in The Hill

Op-eds related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill:

You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!

Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage.

Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩

Topics

Texas workers face mounting dangers in the heart of America's greatest oil boom

This story was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. It is part one of a four-part series. Jose Gonzalez* wore no mask, despite the toxic chemicals he worked with in the oilfield. "One ...
The Hill - 19h
BP shuns renewables in return to oil and gas

The energy giant has announced its strategy after rivals also rowed back on green energy plans.
BBC News - 5d
BP pivots back to oil and gas after ‘misplaced’ faith in green energy

Chief says group was too optimistic over shift to renewables
Financial Times - 5d
BP to slash spending on net zero ventures as it focuses on oil and gas again

British energy company BP has confirmed it is to slash spending on green ventures and up its oil and gas production
ABC News - 5d
BP to ‘Fundamentally Reset’ Strategy in Shift Back to Oil and Gas

The energy giant said it would cut planned investment in clean energy and redirect spending toward fossil fuels.
The New York Times - 4d
Republicans Face Backlash, and the Dangers of Fake A.I. Therapists

Plus, is the daytime soap opera back?
The New York Times - Feb. 24
EU spends more on Russian oil and gas than financial aid to Ukraine – report

Europe estimated to have bought €22bn of fossil fuels from Russia in 2024 but gave €19bn to support Kyiv. The EU is spending more money on Russian fossil fuels than on financial aid to Ukraine, a ...
The Guardian - Feb. 24
BP to abandon pledge to cut oil and gas output as chief fights for group’s survival

Auchincloss must convince activist investor Elliott Management he can turn around troubled oil major
Financial Times - Feb. 25
BP ramps up oil and gas investment to $10bn a year in ‘fundamental reset’ – business live

Oil and gas giant abandons green ambitions, as boss says it will be ‘very selective’ about investing in fossil fuel alternatives. BP will abandon its green ambitions, including plans to cut its ...
The Guardian - 5d

More from The Hill

Warren Buffett calls tariffs 'an act of war’

Legendary investor Warren Buffett likened tariffs to "an act of war" in a new interview as President Trump doubles down on his embrace of the economic strategy. In an interview that aired Sunday on ...
The Hill - 2h
House Republican says he 'can't guarantee' staff cuts won't impact veterans

Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) on Monday defended the budgets and workforce cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, as he said he “can’t guarantee” veterans’ benefits and care would be immune from ...
The Hill - 2h
Vance knocks Zelensky for ‘sense of entitlement’ after Oval Office spat

Vice President JD Vance on Monday knocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for "a certain sense of entitlement" during a clash with the Kyiv leader and President Trump in the Oval Office last ...
The Hill - 3h
Pentagon: $80M in savings found in initial DOGE scrutiny

The Pentagon, in initial work with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has found some $80 million in what it's deemed wasteful spending, according to the building's top ...
The Hill - 3h
Jeffries: It's important to have 'strong, determined and dignified Democratic presence’ at Trump address

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called for Democrats to have a “strong, determined and dignified” presence at President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. ...
The Hill - 4h

More in Politics

Warren Buffett calls tariffs 'an act of war’

Legendary investor Warren Buffett likened tariffs to "an act of war" in a new interview as President Trump doubles down on his embrace of the economic strategy. In an interview that aired Sunday on ...
The Hill - 2h
House Republican says he 'can't guarantee' staff cuts won't impact veterans

Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) on Monday defended the budgets and workforce cuts at the Department of Veterans Affairs, as he said he “can’t guarantee” veterans’ benefits and care would be immune from ...
The Hill - 2h
Trump orders pause on military aid to Ukraine in wake of Oval Office clash with Zelenskyy

The Trump administration is pausing military aid to Ukraine, according to two U.S. officials, following last week's public clash between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr ...
NBC News - 3h
Vance knocks Zelensky for ‘sense of entitlement’ after Oval Office spat

Vice President JD Vance on Monday knocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for "a certain sense of entitlement" during a clash with the Kyiv leader and President Trump in the Oval Office last ...
The Hill - 3h
Pentagon: $80M in savings found in initial DOGE scrutiny

The Pentagon, in initial work with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has found some $80 million in what it's deemed wasteful spending, according to the building's top ...
The Hill - 3h