Dresser Industries Asbestos Settlement Trust
Eligibility, payouts, and how to file. Last reviewed: 2026-05-03.
See if you qualify for the Dresser Industries Trust
About the Dresser Industries Trust
Dresser Industries manufactured oil and gas industry equipment, industrial machinery, valves, and related products from the 1940s through the 1980s. Many Dresser products contained or were associated with asbestos components. Following decades of personal injury litigation, the company's asbestos liability was resolved through reorganization, and the Dresser Industries Asbestos Settlement Trust was established in 2005. The trust pays at 15% pro rata on a $55,000 scheduled mesothelioma value.
Bankruptcy and trust establishment
The Dresser Trust is a primary filing for oil and gas industry workers, industrial machinists, and refinery workers exposed to Dresser equipment. Estimated payouts of $7,000–$9,500 per claim — among the higher payouts for industrial-equipment trusts.
Products and exposure sources covered
Oil and gas industry equipment, industrial valves, pumps, machinery, and process equipment. Dresser produced extensive product lines for petroleum, mining, and general industrial applications.
Specific asbestos-containing products manufactured or distributed by this company:
- Industrial machinery
- Oil and gas equipment
Eligibility criteria
To file a claim with the Dresser Industries Trust, you generally need to demonstrate:
- Qualifying diagnosis: Mesothelioma, Lung cancer, Asbestosis
- Documented exposure to Dresser Industries Trust products during the trust's covered exposure window (1945–1985)
- Work history records placing you at a job site where these products were used (employer records, union records, witness statements, military service records)
- Medical documentation (pathology reports, imaging, treating physician records)
Oil and gas field workers, refinery workers, industrial machinists, valve mechanics, and pump mechanics at facilities with Dresser equipment. Strongest documentation paths through union records (UA pipefitters, IAM machinists) and employer records.
How to file with the Dresser Industries Trust
- Gather documentation — diagnosis records, work history, military service records (DD-214), product identification
- Complete the trust's claim form — Each trust has its own form
- File with all applicable trusts — multi-trust filing simultaneously is the standard approach
- Trust review — typically 3–9 months
- Payment — typically 2–6 months after approval
Most claimants qualify for several trusts, not just one. Filing with all applicable trusts at once maximizes total compensation. Start your free case review and we'll identify every applicable trust for your specific work history.
Compensation amounts
Reported scheduled value for mesothelioma claims: $55,000. The trust's current pro rata payment percentage is 15%, meaning the actual payout typically falls in the range of $7,000–$9,500.
These figures are based on Trust Distribution Procedures (TDPs) and historical payout data. Pro rata percentages can change. Actual recovery varies by case factors including diagnosis severity, exposure documentation, and trust funding levels at the time of payment. Past payouts do not guarantee future amounts.
Common qualifying occupations
The Dresser Industries Trust commonly accepts claims from workers in these occupations:
Multi-trust filing strategy
The Dresser Industries Trust is rarely the only trust a mesothelioma claimant qualifies for. Most workers exposed to industrial machinery were also exposed to products covered by other bankruptcy trusts. Filing with multiple trusts simultaneously is standard practice and significantly increases total compensation.
Related trusts that often apply alongside the Dresser Industries Trust
- Federal-Mogul Trust — 15% pro rata, est. payout $8,000–$11,000
- H.K. Porter Trust — 6% pro rata, est. payout $1,500–$2,200
- Johns Manville Trust — 5.1% pro rata, est. payout $1,100–$4,500
- Babcock & Wilcox Trust — 25% pro rata, est. payout $18,000–$22,000
- Combustion Engineering Trust — 11.5% pro rata, est. payout $6,500–$8,500
Deadlines and statute of limitations
The Dresser Industries Trust generally accepts claims on a rolling basis with no fixed annual deadline, though the trust may modify procedures from time to time. The applicable statute of limitations for the underlying asbestos claim depends on your state of residence and typically runs from the date of diagnosis (1–3 years in most states for personal injury; longer for wrongful death in some jurisdictions).
Always verify current deadlines with the trust administrator or a licensed attorney before filing. We track deadlines for our clients so you don't miss a filing window.
Frequently asked questions
I worked oil and gas industry — does Dresser apply?
Likely yes. Dresser equipment was widely used across U.S. oil and gas operations. Field workers, refinery workers, and industrial pipefitters from the 1945-1985 era have well-documented exposure paths.
What Dresser products are most commonly cited?
Dresser valves and industrial pumps are the most-claimed products. These required asbestos packing and gaskets that were replaced routinely during maintenance.
Did Dresser become Halliburton?
Halliburton acquired Dresser Industries in 1998. Dresser-era asbestos liability was settled through the Dresser Trust before/during the merger. Halliburton-era claims may be covered by the separate Halliburton/Harbison-Walker trust depending on facts.
How does Dresser combine with Halliburton/Harbison-Walker?
Both trusts cover oil and gas industry workers but for different products and exposure sources. Multi-trust filing across both is standard for refinery and oil/gas workers.
What about pump mechanics specifically?
Pump mechanics had heavy Dresser exposure if they worked on Dresser pumps. Replacing pump packing and gaskets was the primary exposure mechanism. Document specific employers and pump types worked on.
Sources and verification
Information on this page is based on publicly available Trust Distribution Procedures (TDPs), bankruptcy court Plans of Reorganization (PACER), trust annual reports, and RAND Institute for Civil Justice asbestos trust research. Reviewed quarterly.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-03 · Next scheduled review: 2026-08-03
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