Oil major Chevron has reached a settlement with the family of a worker who was burned to death in a gas well fire in the US.
Ian McKee died aged 27-years-old when he had gone to investigate the hissing sound of gas which was escaping under high pressure at the Chevron Lanco 7H well in Greene County, Pennslyvania.
The escaping gas exploded, killing the worker and creating a fire which was eventually put out after four days.
The amount paid to settle the lawsuit was not disclosed but according to media reports in the region, it was an estimated $5million.
An investigation by the Pennsylania Department of Environmental Protection blamed the incident on errors on other staff members, includng a supervisor who had failed to make sure a lock pin was tightened properly.
The staff, including McKee, worked for Cameron International Corp, which has been hired by Chevron to bring wells into production and keep them flowing.