Staghorn Petroleum Meets With Families After Blanchard Well Blowout
The operator of an oil well that blew out near Blanchard last week has begun meeting directly with residents who were forced to evacuate their homes following the incident.
According to KFOR TV, representatives from Staghorn Petroleum started holding meetings Monday with affected families as part of an effort to address displacement costs and other impacts tied to the blowout.
Company Begins Reimbursement Process
Reports indicate Staghorn Petroleum coordinated with the Grady County Sheriff’s Office to help facilitate reimbursement for residents who were evacuated from their homes after the well incident last Thursday.
Company representatives met with families at the Winter Creek Golf Course in Blanchard, providing a centralized location for residents to speak directly with Staghorn officials and county emergency personnel.
Emergency Management: Families Asked to Bring Receipts
Bill Flores, interim director of the Grady County Emergency Management Office, said displaced residents were encouraged to bring documentation of their expenses.
“Families who had to leave their homes last week were asked to bring receipts to help them mitigate, reimbursing them for their troubles, which to me is incredible,” Flores said.
Flores indicated the effort was aimed at covering out-of-pocket costs related to temporary lodging, meals, and other necessities incurred during the evacuation period.
Evacuations Follow Well Control Incident
The well blowout near Blanchard prompted evacuations of nearby homes as a precaution while crews worked to stabilize the site. Local and county officials coordinated response efforts, including traffic control, safety monitoring, and resident notifications.
While details of the well control operations have not been fully disclosed, officials previously said the evacuations were ordered out of an abundance of caution due to safety concerns associated with uncontrolled well activity.
About Staghorn Petroleum
Staghorn Petroleum is a Tulsa-based oil and gas exploration company with active drilling operations in Oklahoma’s Anadarko Basin, one of the most prolific oil and natural gas producing regions in the country.
The company has not publicly commented beyond the reimbursement effort, but the meetings mark the first direct engagement between Staghorn and affected residents since the blowout occurred.
County officials said additional follow-up may occur depending on ongoing assessments and any longer-term impacts tied to the incident.
SOURCE: KFOR TV
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