MEAD – Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: APC) has suspended oil and natural-gas well-completion activities indefinitely in Northern Colorado following the death of a contractor and injuries to two other workers at a well site in Weld County

A Halliburton Co. (NYSE: HAL) worker died Thursday and two other employees, Thomas Sedlmayr, 48, and Grant Casey, 28, were injured in the accident. Sedlmayr was taken in a helicopter to Denver Health while Casey was driven in an ambulance to Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland.

Both workers had serious, though non-life threatening injuries, said Sgt. Sean Standridge of the Weld County Sheriff’s Office

The sheriff’s office did not release the name of the worker who died. But the Weld County Coroner’s office identified him as Matthew Smith, 36, of Brighton, according to media reports.

A crew was trying to thaw a frozen pipe when it ruptured about 9:30 a.m. near Colorado 66 and Weld County Road 9 ½ near Mead. Water burst out of the high pressure line at 3,000 to 4,500 pounds per square inch, according to the Sheriff’s Office

The line was being used to hydraulically fracture a well. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a well-completion technique that involves pumping millions of gallons of water into a drilled hole to retrieve oil and natural gas from shale formations deep underground.

Authorities, including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, are investigating the incident.

Anadarko and Halliburton issued separate statements expressing sadness about the death and injuries to the workers involved in the accident.

“We have suspended all completions activities in the area and will cooperate fully with the authorities in their review,” Anadarko spokeswoman Robin Olsen said.