13th Aug 2007 13:55
BHP Billiton PLC13 August 2007 NEWS RELEASERelease Time IMMEDIATEDate 13 August 2007Number 25/07 BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES GAS DISCOVERY AT THEBE-1 OFFSHORE AUSTRALIA BHP Billiton announced today a discovery at the Thebe-1 exploration well thatwas recently drilled offshore Western Australia. The well and subsequentevaluation confirmed a gas column of approximately 240 feet (73 metres)encountered in the Exmouth Plateau of the Carnarvon Basin. Drilling of the Thebe-1 well began during the first week of July 2007 in blockWA-346-P using the semi-submersible rig Atwood Eagle. The well is locatedapproximately 186 miles (300 kilometres) off the North West coast of WesternAustralia in water depths of 3,848 feet (1173 metres). The well has now beenabandoned after reservoir core was collected. BHP Billiton is the operator atThebe-1 and holds a 100 percent interest in the field. "The Thebe discovery is an excellent addition to our global portfolio. Theresults are encouraging and we will now proceed with further data gathering andevaluation," said Steve O'Rourke, President of Global Exploration for BHPBilliton Petroleum. Thebe-1 is the second significant BHP Billiton gas discovery in the basin and islocated approximately 31 miles (50 kilometres) north of the Scarborough gasfield in which BHP Billiton is a 50 percent partner with ExxonMobil. Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:www.bhpbilliton.com Australia United KingdomSamantha Evans, Media Relations Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media RelationsTel: +61 3 9609 2898 Mobile: +61 400 693 915 Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 Mobile: +44 7769 934 942email: [email protected] email: [email protected] Jane Belcher, Investor Relations Illtud Harri, Media RelationsTel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 417 031 653 Tel: +44 20 7802 4195 Mobile: +44 7920 237 246email: [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 Mobile: +44 7769 936 227 Email: [email protected]: [email protected] This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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