GRETNA – A number of energy exploration and associated companies are being sued by a former drilling pipe cleaner claiming his exposure to radiation through his job resulted in his contraction of throat cancer.
Natividad Tenorio filed suit against Exxon Mobil Corporation, Humble Oil And Refining Company, Humble Oil And Refining Corporation, Exxon Company USA, Exxon Mobil Oil Corporation, Chevron USA Inc., Gulf Oil Exploration And Production Co., Gulf Oil Corporation, Standard Oil Company Inc, Standard Oil Company of California Inc., ! Texaco Inc, Texas Company, Texaco Inc, Texas Corporation, Devon Energy Production Company LP, Devon Energy Corporation, Pennzenergy Exploration And Production LLC, Devon Energy Operating Company, Devon Energy Gas Marketing Company, Pennzoil Gas Marketing Company, Union Producing Company, Pennzoil Oil And Gas Inc., Pennzoil Company, Pennzoil Producing Company, Pennzoil United Inc., United Gas Corporation, Pennzoil Petroleum Company, Conocophillips Company, Phillips Petroleum Company, Conoco Inc., BP Products North America Inc., Amoco Oil Company, American Oil Company, BP America Production Company, Amoco Production Company, Pan American Petroleum Corporation, Standolind Oil And Gas Company, Vastar Resources Inc., Shell Oil Company, Shell Offshore Inc, Swepi LP, Marathon Oil Company, Intracoastal Tubular Services Inc., Intracoastal Truck Line Inc., Intracoastal Terminal Inc., Intracoastal Pipe Repair And Supply Inc. and OFS Inc. in the 24th Judicial District Court on April 17.
Tenorio asserts that from 1981 to 1988 he was employed by Alpha Technical Services where he cleaned oilfield generated radiation (OGR) scale from pipes, which included work at the Intracoastal Tubular Services Inc. yard located in Harvey. The plaintiff alleges that the worked undertaken caused the OGR to become pulverized and become airborne exposing him to high levels of radiation through inhalation and ingestion. Tenorio claims that due to his work for and with the defendants he later contracted throat cancer.
The defendant is accused of knowing and not warning of the danger of OGR, failing to properly mark and prevent access to OGR contaminated work areas, using defective work equipment, not marking OGR contaminated pipes, failing to conduct safe pipe cleaning operations, failing to properly contain and dispose of OGR and not disclosing the hazardous nature of the job.
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of income, loss of wage earning capacity, medical monitoring expenses and medical expenses.
Tenorio is represented by Jeremiah A. Sprague of the Marrero-based Falcon Law Firm.
The case has been assigned to Division O Judge Ross P. LaDart.
Case no. 737-588.
Former pipe cleaner sues numerous energy extraction companies over alleged radiation exposure and throat cancer
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