Valaris Limited Accident Lawyers

Turn to an Offshore Injury Law Firm That Gets Results

Formerly known as Ensco before going through a few name changes, Valaris filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and finished restructuring in 2021. Bankruptcy notwithstanding, Valaris Limited is still a global provider of offshore drilling services to major international, government-owned, and independent oil and gas companies. Even if its fleet has been somewhat depleted post-bankruptcy, it still boasts the world's largest offshore fleet with 11 drillships, 5 semisubmersibles, 35 jack-up rigs, and 2 deepwater-managed units.  It has drilled in nearly every major offshore basin and has major bases of operations in Angola, Brazil, Norway, Scotland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

Offshore Accidents on Valaris Limited's Watch

Just as any other major company in a hazardous industry, Valaris Ltd. is keen on downplaying reports of injuries or deaths on the job. All too often, there is also a clear pattern of corporate indifference or negligence that leads to these preventable accidents. Incidents involving Valaris Limited include:

  • In October 2014, when Valaris was still Ensco, two oil rig workers died during a routine lifeboat inspection off the coast of Malaysia. The two men were working on a lifeboat that was suddenly dropped 150 feet into the water, as the safety harness holding the lifeboat snapped and fell onto both men's heads, inflicting deadly injuries.
  • In January 2023, a man fell overboard from a Valaris jack-up rig in the North Sea and was never found. Officials noted in an inspection that there was a hole in the flooring on the rig, as some grating lacked the fasteners meant to keep it in place. As a result, the grating had been displaced, leaving a hole big enough for workers to fall through.

Valaris Limited's Merger with Rowan Companies 

Rowan Companies PLC provides offshore drilling services as a contractor to petroleum companies. The company was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in Houston. Today, its fleet consists of 25 jack-up rigs. The company also has four ultra-deepwater drilling ships. These modern ships are capable of drilling wells up to 40,000 feet deep in water depths of up to 12,000 feet. Rowan operates its rigs in rough waters and harsh environments in the Gulf of Mexico and around the world. In 2019, Ensco merged with Rowan to become EnscoRowan plc, and then Valaris plc.

Rowan Companies operates numerous subsidiaries worldwide and employs thousands of workers. Like many other offshore companies, it doesn't have a perfect safety record. Our Rowan Companies accident lawyers have filed cases against the company for negligence in the past.

The following are some of the incidents involving Rowan vessels:

  • In 2017, the Norwegian safety body, Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA), notified Rowan of safety issues on a drilling rig owned by the company, noting that the company had deficiencies in their maintenance management system.
  • In 2016, a Rowan Companies jack-up rig failed safety requirements during another audit by the Petroleum Safety Authority. Violations noted by the PSA included crushing hazards and issues with fire stations and life jackets. The PSA also noted that the jack-up rig's crew lacked proper emergency response training.
  • In 2015, Arnold & Itkin filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Rowan on behalf of the family of a man who died on a drilling rig. He suffered a medical emergency and was not evacuated for several hours, costing him his life.

Rowan-Midland Drilling Rig Fine

Between 2002 and 2005, Rowan Companies operated the Rowan-Midland rig in the Gulf of Mexico. After a government inspection, it was revealed that employees were knowingly dumping hydraulic oil, paint, and garbage into the Gulf, in direct violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA) and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS). Rowan Companies pleaded guilty to three felonies and was required to pay penalties totaling $9,000,000. The company was also placed on probation and was required to create an environmental division. Nine of the company's employees were also fined $2,500 each. Rowan Companies eventually sold the Rowan-Midland rig for an estimated $60 million.

Involve a Valaris Offshore Injury Attorney Today

Large companies like Valaris and Rowan are masters of utilizing the legal system to their benefit. Legally speaking, workers who are injured due to negligence by Valaris (or its managers) are entitled to sue for their loss of wages, medical costs, diminished earning capacity, mental anguish, and more. In reality, however, companies like Valaris know that they can wait out your claim. They can delay you, forcing you to settle when you eventually run out of money to live—after all, injured people often can't go back to work. Our firm is here to make that pattern stop.

The Valaris Limited accident attorneys at Arnold & Itkin have helped countless workers stand up to companies like Valaris and Rowan Companies. We've fought against the largest insurers, manufacturers, and corporations in the nation, but we've never flinched. Our clients have won more than $20 billion because we have the resources and tools to level the playing field, ensuring that everyone, no matter their situation, can fight for justice. Our offshore injury lawyers take on the costs of every case. Let us help you make things right. Let us help you rebuild.

Call (888) 346-5024 today to request your free consultation with our offshore injury law firm. If we take your case, there's no fee unless we win.

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