The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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  • A water separator tank exploded at a gas well location off Upper Sandlick Road near Eccles around 1 p.m. Christmas Day, according to the Trap Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Fire Chief Larry Reedy said there was a great deal of force behind the pressure explosion, sending bits of metal flying in all directions. A gas well tender was on site, but wasn’t injured. No other injuries were reported. Reedy said the blast was probably caused by a faulty valve, but the gas company will further investigate the source of the problem. The blast did not involve natural gas from the well. Reedy said the compressor station sustained extensive damage and a phone line on the main road was cut by the explosion. Callers reported the blast was heard as far away as Glen Jean in Fayette County and shook windows in homes in the Beckley and Bradley areas of Raleigh County. F. brian ferguson/the register-herald

    Gas explosion
December 26, 2011

Explosion heard for miles

By Wendy Holdren Register-Herald Reporter

ECCLES — A water separator tank exploded at a gas well location off Upper Sandlick Road near Eccles around 1 p.m. Christmas Day, according to the Trap Hill Volunteer Fire Department. Fire Chief Larry Reedy said there was a great deal of force behind the pressure explosion, sending bits of metal flying in all directions. A gas well tender was on site, but wasn’t injured. No other injuries were reported. Reedy said the blast was probably caused by a faulty valve, but the gas company will further investigate the source of the problem. The blast did not involve natural gas from the well. Reedy said the compressor station sustained extensive damage and a phone line on the main road was cut by the explosion. Callers reported the blast was heard as far away as Glen Jean in Fayette County and shook windows in homes in the Beckley and Bradley areas of Raleigh County.

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