Men sue Chesapeake Appalachia for injuries from explosion

CHARLESTON -- Two related men are suing Chesapeake Appalachia LLC after they claim they were injured in an explosion.

H&H Oilfield Services LLC and Signal Completion Services LLC were also named as defendants in the suit.

Richard Lancaster, of Sardis, Ohio; and Frank Lancaster, of New Martinsville, W.Va., were employed by BBU Environmental Services and were working at a job site known as the Joseph Powers well site, according to a complaint filed April 27 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

The plaintiffs claim the defendants were engaged in a Marcellus Shale natural gas well drilling operation in Avella, Pa.

On Feb. 23, the two men were working at the job site when an explosion occurred, which resulted in a fire, according to the suit.

The men claim the defendants had a legal duty to safely manage the production, transfer and storage of natural gas, but failed to do so.

The defendants violated commonly accepted industry standards and were negligent, according to the suit.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Christopher J. Heavens and W. Perry Zivley Jr.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Louis H. Bloom.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-694