Odessa, TX – Three parties involved in oilfield operations in West Texas have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in connection with worker safety and environmental violations that led to the tragic deaths of an employee and his spouse. The case stems from a 2019 incident involving the lethal release of hydrogen sulfide gas at an Aghorn Operating Inc. facility in Odessa, Texas.
Aghorn Operating Inc., its executive Trent Day, and Kodiak Roustabout Inc. entered guilty pleas and received sentences yesterday for violations of the Clean Air Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and the Safe Drinking Water Act. The violations, according to federal prosecutors, reflect a series of preventable failures in safety and environmental oversight.
Tragic Deaths Spark Federal Case
On October 26, 2019, Aghorn employee Jacob Dean was dispatched to inspect a pump at an Aghorn facility in Odessa, located in the Permian Basin—an area known for “sour” oil containing high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas. Jacob was fatally exposed to the toxic gas.
When he failed to return home, his wife Natalee Dean went to the site to find him. She too was overcome by the gas and died. Both deaths prompted a joint investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), leading to a series of criminal charges.
Guilty Pleas and Sentences
Under the terms of plea agreements accepted by a federal court:
- Aghorn Operating Inc. pleaded guilty to negligent endangerment under the Clean Air Act and a willful violation of OSHA safety regulations. The company was sentenced to pay a $1 million criminal fine and must continue safety upgrades made since the incident during a court-supervised probation period.
- Trent Day, Vice President of Aghorn, pleaded guilty to a Clean Air Act violation for negligent endangerment. Day admitted that he failed to ensure control of hydrogen sulfide emissions, putting others at serious risk. He was sentenced to five months in federal prison.
- Kodiak Roustabout Inc., a support services firm, pleaded guilty to a felony violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The company submitted false reports to the Texas Railroad Commission, falsely claiming that well integrity tests had been conducted. Kodiak will pay a $400,000 criminal fine and, during its probation, must ensure third-party verification of at least 33 well tests conducted on Aghorn’s behalf.
The defendants’ plea deals include the dismissal of other pending charges.
Government Response
Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division emphasized the seriousness of the case:
“Through these guilty pleas, the defendants accept responsibility for allowing hazards that should have been prevented. If they had done what the law requires, Jacob and Natalee might still be with us today.”
Jeffrey Hall, Acting Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said the agency will continue to hold violators accountable:
“Energy production is vital, but it must be done competently and lawfully. Operators who gravely endanger and kill others and those who lie to the government will be held accountable for their criminal conduct.”
Nearly three years after a fatal hydrogen sulfide release claimed the lives of two people at the Aghorn Operating waterflood station, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has released its final report, calling for urgent safety reforms across the oil and gas sector.
The October 26, 2019 incident occurred when a toxic gas leak at the West Texas facility fatally injured an Aghorn employee working on-site, followed hours later by the death of his spouse, who entered the facility to look for him after he failed to return home. The couple’s two children, who remained in the vehicle during the search, were unharmed.
“This tragedy underscores the critical need for stronger safeguards at facilities that handle hazardous chemicals like hydrogen sulfide,” said CSB Chair Katherine Lemos. “Waterflood stations are common throughout Texas, and what happened in Odessa must never happen again.”
A Sequence of Failures
The Aghorn facility, used in oil extraction to inject pressurized water back into underground reservoirs, released hydrogen sulfide—a highly toxic gas—when a pump malfunctioned. That night, an oil level alarm had been triggered. A field worker, or “pumper,” was dispatched and attempted to isolate the pump by closing valves. However, he did not properly deenergize the pump or follow any lockout/tagout procedures before beginning work.
At some point, the pump automatically restarted, releasing a plume of hydrogen sulfide gas into the enclosed pump house. The pumper was overcome and killed. Later that night, his spouse arrived at the site with their children, found him inside, and was herself exposed to the gas. She also succumbed to the toxic fumes.
Gaps in Safety Practices
The CSB’s investigation uncovered a disturbing array of safety lapses at the facility, including:
- Failure to use personal gas detectors: The pumper was not wearing a hydrogen sulfide detection device, and there was no policy requiring it.
- Lack of lockout/tagout procedures: Aghorn had no formal program to ensure equipment was safely deenergized before servicing.
- Inadequate ventilation: While the pump house had ventilation systems, it was unclear if they were operational at the time of the incident.
- Faulty detection and alarm system: The hydrogen sulfide alarm system failed to activate, as it received no signal from gas detection sensors.
- Lack of site security: Access gates were left unlocked, allowing the pumper’s spouse to enter the hazardous area unimpeded.
- Furthermore, the CSB determined that the company lacked a formal safety management program and relied on incomplete or informal procedures, leaving both workers and the public vulnerable.
Reforms Demanded
In response, the CSB has issued a series of recommendations to Aghorn Operating, Inc., urging sweeping changes, including:
- Mandatory use of personal gas detectors;
- A comprehensive lockout/tagout safety program;
- Independent assessments of ventilation systems;
- A structured safety management system focused on hydrogen sulfide hazards;
- Proper maintenance and configuration of gas detection and alarm systems;
- Multiple alert layers for hydrogen sulfide hazards;
- Site-specific security protocols to prevent unauthorized access.
In addition to company-specific recommendations, the CSB is urging OSHA to issue guidance on protecting workers from toxic gases and hazardous energy, and has called on the Railroad Commission of Texas to notify all relevant oil and gas operators about the findings and safety concerns.
Broader Safety and Environmental Concerns
Investigators determined that Aghorn failed to implement a required respiratory protection program, a basic OSHA mandate for facilities handling hazardous gases. Additionally, the false reports submitted by Kodiak undermined safeguards designed to prevent groundwater contamination from oilfield operations.
