Negligence in Domestic Well Drilling: Foreseeability and Standard of Care

In December 2021, a water well drilling contractor engaged by a residential developer penetrated an underground gas pocket at approximately 312 feet depth while drilling a domestic well on a rural property near Clearwater, British Columbia. The air rotary drilling operation struck the gas formation, triggering an ignition and fireball that destroyed the contractor's drilling rig—a 2007 heavy-duty truck-mounted unit valued at over $1,000,000. The incident required a 3-day industrial well control and cementing response attended by provincial and federal environmental authorities.

The property owners have commenced an action against both the developer and the drilling contractor, alleging negligence for failing to adequately investigate known regional gas hazards prior to drilling despite publicly available records. The drilling contractor has counterclaimed, maintaining the event resulted from an unexpected rogue gas pocket not identifiable through standard domestic drilling practice and that all prescribed pre-job regulatory protocols were followed.

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