What was the gas leak in Landman season 2 episode 3? Explained

Landman season 2 continues to explore the life of a landman through a fictional lens, following the premiere of season 1 in November 2024 to critical acclaim. Created by Taylor Sheridan and Christian Wallace, the series was inspired by the podcast Boomtown and revolves around Tommy Norris as he navigates the complex world of the oil fields in West Texas.

Season 2 delves into all aspects of the perilous oil industry, from the billionaires who own the companies to the workers at the bottom of the proverbial food chain. And those workers are exposed to some very real dangers that many within the industry face daily, including the devastating gas leak from Landman season 2 episode 3.

The H2S gas, which leaked from a broken oil tanker, caused the death of several hunters in the episode and gravely injured many of the M-Tex workers.

---

What actually happened in Landman season 2 episode 3?

Landman season 2 episode 3 kicks off with a group of hunters approaching an oil well and tank while firing guns in the air at their prey. Eventually, one of the hunters climbs out of a vehicle and approaches the animal the group is hunting. But as he gets closer to the tank, he starts to cough and then collapses.

His friends, watching him drop suddenly, rush to help. However, they also start coughing and collapse. As the episode rolls on, Dale, Boss, and a group of oil workers arrive on the scene to fix the damage caused by a previous lightning strike.

Jerrell then climbs up onto the oil tank and uses his vantage spot to check and see if there’s any trouble ahead, which is when he spots an abandoned vehicle. It’s the same one left by the hunters earlier, and as Dale and company get closer, they see the group of men collapsed on the ground.

A sudden surge of wind stirs up the hazardous substance that has leaked into the air, and an alarm sounds, prompting Dale to tell his team to run. But before the group can even make it back to their trucks, they start coughing, gagging, and throwing up as Dale calls in a “H2S leak” and then requests a “hazmat and EMS” team to be brought to the site.

The entire team is soon rescued and airlifted out by helicopter before any fatalities can occur.

Also read: Landman season 2 episode 6 release date and time, what’s next, and everything you need to know

---

What was the devastating gas leak made of?

The killer gas that killed the group of hunters in Landman season 2 episode 3 is H2S, also known as hydrogen sulfide. It’s an extremely flammable and toxic gas that smells like rotten eggs when at low concentrations, which is how Dale and his company knew how to deal with it immediately.

As Dale noted in the episode, H2S gas is far heavier than air, which is why it usually sticks to the ground and why the hunters collapsed so quickly. This, according to OSHA and the news outlet The Examination, is a standard occurrence for oil industry workers and ‘landmen,’ as it can occur at any time and anywhere.

The usual sources are those from underground oil and gas wells, as well as acid treatments on the rigs and in the tanks. To make matters worse, at high concentrations, the H2S gas is odourless and quickly causes breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, organ damage, and a near instant death.

Also read: Landman season 2 episode 2 ending explained: Will Tommy be forced into a deal with Gallino?

---

Interested viewers can watch Landman season 2 on Paramount+.

Edited by Riya Peter