MENTONE, Texas — A sheriff says two oil workers are dead and four others are injured following an explosion at a West Texas oil field just south of the New Mexico border.

Loving County Sheriff Billy Hopper says authorities received an emergency call before 8:30 a.m. today about the explosion about 60 miles southeast of Carlsbad, N.M.

Hopper says he doesn't know which company operates the oil field. He says the workers were operating an oil rig that separates production fluids, such as oil from water.

The extent of the injuries to the four workers was not immediately clear.