Houston Jury Awards $82M Over 2007 Explosion Death

The family of a Mineral Wells, Texas, man who died after a 2007 explosion at a natural gas processing plant in Hood County has been awarded $82.5 million in damages.

Houston-based Exterran Energy Solutions L.P., formerly Hanover Compression L.P., will be liable if the Houston jury’s award is upheld. Exterran did not immediately comment.

Hanover engineered and built the plant where Joshua Wade Petrie was working. The plant is owned by Fort Worth-based Quicksilver Resources.

The jury decided that Hanover was grossly negligent and 90 percent responsible. Quicksilver was cited for 10 percent responsibility.

Petrie family attorney Rob Ammons says Quicksilver, which employed Petrie, provided workers’ compensation insurance and is not liable for monetary damages.

Information from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram