2 hurt in Tenn. oil well explosion, fire

An explosion and fire at an oil well injured two workers Friday and sent smoke over eastern Tennessee in a rural area dotted with small oil and gas wells.

Workers drilling for oil hit a gas pocket at a new well owned by Atlas America Inc., company spokesman Darrell Trett said. "It's rare that an explosion occurs when you hit a gas pocket, but it happens," he said.

The fire continued to burn at midday but was contained at the well head.

The well is about 30 miles west of Knoxville in a mostly rural area.

Bill Goodwin, director and past president of the Tennessee Oil and Gas Association, said Atlas America has drilled several wells in the area, an oil-bearing formation known as the Big Sunnybrook.

Firefighters from surrounding departments, a county rescue squad and ambulances were sent to the site. One of the injured workers was taken to a hospital, but the injuries were not believed to be serious, officials said.