12/03/2015 7:54 am

An explosion has killed three people and injured one at an oil and gas field in west Texas, well owner Parsley Energy said yesterday.

America’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it was investigating the disaster about 50 miles south of Midland.

Upton County’s office of emergency management, via social media, called the news sad and said few details were available.

Midland-based Parsley is one of many small companies working in the Permian basin of Texas, one of the top US shale oil fields.

There have been numerous deadly rig explosions in the US over the past decade. Wells can blow out when drilling rigs are overwhelmed by pressure from underground.