LEBANON – A gas well in the Town of Lebanon exploded early Thursday morning, less than five and a half miles from Chenango’s border with Madison County. The explosion injured two workers and jolted nearby residents from their beds.
“Two well operators that were on site were both treated for burns, one to his face and arms and one with burns to his face. They were treated for the burns and released within hours of the incident,” said Norse Energy spokesman Dennis Holbrook.
Norse Energy is the parent company of Nornew, which has an office located in The Eaton Center in Norwich.
The incident began at 5 a.m. Thursday when a fire was somehow ignited at the site, causing an explosion. The company flew in a response team and had the fire put out using foam and water by 2 p.m., explained Holbrook.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated, but the company said it ignited while operators were in the process of removing drill piping.
The closest residence to the explosion was a home along Lebanon Hill Road, approximately 300 to 400 yards away.
Don Johnson lives there with his family and was awakened by the sound Thursday morning.
“I was sleeping and the sound woke me up,” said Johnson, who described the noise as a loud concussion.
“It was one of those things you wake up and think ‘what the heck was that? Was I dreaming?’ I went back to bed and the next thing I hear is someone knocking on my door and that’s when you start to wonder ‘What is going on?’”
“They came knocking on the door, maybe 20 minutes after five (a.m.) and we were told by them that there was an ‘incident’ and to ‘pleased stay in your home and away from your windows for the time being,’” said Johnson, quoting Norse Energy personnel he recognized from the gas rigs down the road.
Lebanon Hill Road has three gas wells along it and two of them are within sight of the family’s farmhouse home.
Johnson said he’s used to having Norse Energy as a neighbor. “Nothing surprises me up here anymore,” said Johnson. “It’s just constant traffic,” he added.
Norse Energy flew in a response team to review the fire as it burned to evaluate how to terminate the blaze safely.
