Oil Rig Explosion In The Permian Results In 3 Fatalities

zouyilin

An oil rig explosion on Tuesday in the heart of the Permian Basin resulted in the deaths of three persons and the injury of another. The fourth person was injured but not transported to the hospital, local sheriff's deputies said.

Investigator Dusty Kilgore of the Upton County Sheriff's office told the Associated Press that the incident occurred Tuesday morning about 40 miles south of Midland near Rankin.

Kilgore said a pulling unit crew was at the location when the explosion occurred.
The rig is owned by Parsley Energy of Midland. Company spokeswoman Lisa Elliott told the AP that the employees who were killed worked for independent contractor Mason Well Service Ltd. located in Odessa.

OSHA said it was investigating the cause of the explosion, while the Upton County sheriff's deputies said the investigation is in its early stages.