Transocean Inc. said it was continuing to investigate an explosion that occurred late Tuesday on one of its natural gas inland barges in Galveston Bay, claiming the life of an employee.

The Transocean barge was drilling a natural gas development well, according to the company. Apparently, the explosion had no effect on gas production because the well had not reached its target depth. The identity of the victim had not been released.

The well-control incident, which resulted in a fire, occurred on a rig Transocean was operating for TransTexas Gas Corp. Transocean said 22 people were on the rig at the time, with four were taken to area hospitals. Only one person remained hospitalized Wednesday, according to Transocean.

According to the company, the well had ceased to flow, and the rig fire had diminished and was confined to the mud pits. TransTexas retained well and pollution control specialists immediately after the incident and were on site Wednesday. Efforts were also under way to extinguish the mud pit fire.

Transocean, headquartered in Houston, has more than 170 full or partially owned rigs, and manages mobile offshore drilling units, inland drilling barges and other assets to support its offshore drilling activities worldwide.

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