Worker hurt in drilling mishap

A drilling accident Thursday critically injured a worker at a natural gas well in Meridian.

William Stanley, 30, of Yuba City suffered a broken leg and possible internal injuries in the accident, according to Capt. Dave Samson of the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department.

Stanley was flown by helicopter to Sutter Roseville Medical Center, where a spokeswoman listed him in critical condition as of 5:30 p.m.

Stanley was one of four workers and a supervisor helping to restore the dormant well at Drexler and Meridian roads, a mile south of Highway 20.

The crew was using a sand-cable mechanism to purge water from the well’s tubes, according to Kevin Graham, president of Paul Graham Drilling and Service Co., the Rio Vista firm that owns the well. Work at the site began earlier this week.

At about 9 a.m., another worker slipped and accidentally landed on the controls for the sand-cable mechanism, Samson said. The braided steel cable wrapped around Stanley, who was standing nearby, breaking one and possibly both legs.

Work at the gas well stopped after the accident but was scheduled to resume this morning, Graham said.

Company officials notified the state Department of Occupational Safety and Health after the accident. It was not yet known when Cal/OSHA would send an investigator the site.

Paul Graham Drilling operates four drilling rigs for opening new gas wells, along with the repair rig it was using at the Meridian well.

Stanley has worked for the company for two years, according to Graham.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Howard Yune can be reached at 749-4708. You may e-mail him at hyune@appealdemocrat.com