16th Dec 2005 07:00
BHP Billiton PLC16 December 2005 16 December 2005Number 50/05 BHP BILLITON APPROVES ITS SHARE OF NWS ANGEL DEVELOPMENT BHP Billiton announced today its share of development costs for the North WestShelf Venture's Angel gas and condensate field off the north west coast ofAustralia. Development will begin immediately following final investmentdecisions by all of the joint-venture participants. Based on the operator's estimate the total investment is A$1.6 billion (BHPBilliton's share approximately US$200 million). This will include installationof the Venture's third major offshore production platform off the North WestShelf and associated infrastructure, including a new subsea 50km pipeline whichwill be tied in to the first trunkline at the North Rankin platform. Thedevelopment is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2008. BHP Billiton's Group President Energy, Philip Aiken, said: "The development isanother significant step in BHP Billiton's goal to maximise the value of ourinterest in the North West Shelf and follows our approval of the fifth trainexpansion earlier this year." "The Angel project continues to build on the foundation of the North WestShelf's LNG business," Mr Aiken said. The remotely operated Angel processing platform will be in 80 metres of waterabout 49km east of the Venture's existing North Rankin production facility.Hydrocarbons will be produced through one processing unit with a capacity of upto 800 million standard cubic feet of gas a day plus associated condensate. The six equal participants in the NWS Project are: Woodside Energy Ltd. (16.67%and operator); BHP Billiton Petroleum (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd 16.67%); BPDevelopments Australia Pty Ltd (16.67%); Chevron Australia Pty Ltd (16.67%);Japan Australia LNG (MIMI) Pty Ltd (16.67%); and Shell Development (Australia)Pty Ltd (16.67%). CNOOC NWS Private Limited is also a member of the North WestShelf Venture but does not have an interest in North West Shelf Ventureinfrastructure. Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com Australia United KingdomJane Belcher, Investor Relations Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media RelationsTel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 417 031 653 Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 Mobile: +44 7769 934 942email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Samantha Evans, Media Relations Ariane Gentil, Media RelationsTel: +61 3 9609 2898 Mobile: +61 400 693 915 Tel: +44 20 7802 4177 Mobile: +44 78 81 51 8715email: [email protected] email: [email protected] United States South AfricaTracey Whitehead, Investor & Media Relations Alison Gilbert, Investor RelationsTel: US +1 713 599 6100 or UK +44 20 7802 4031 Tel: SA +27 11 376 2121 or UK +44 20 7802 4183Mobile: +44 7917 648 093 email: [email protected]: [email protected] BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209Registered in Australia Registered in England and WalesRegistered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH UnitedVictoria 3000 KingdomTelephone +61 1300 554 757 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015 Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111 The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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