NIXON, Texas - Two workers were seriously injured in an explosion at an energy plant in Gonzales County early Wednesday.
The explosion happened around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday at a Vann Energy location just Southeast of Nixon. A Gonzales County sheriff's dispatcher said the workers were hurt during the fracturing process known as fracking, where chemically treated water is used to crack shale and release natural gas. The men suffered severe burns and had to be airlifted to San Antonio Military Medical Center.
The fire was put out by fire departments from Nixon, Belmont, and Smiley. Nearby homes were briefly evacuated.
On the web:
OSHA report on Vann Energy (February 9, 2012)Some information for this story was obtained from Associated Press.