UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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BHP BILLITON LIMITED (ABN 49 004 028 077) (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)
180 LONSDALE STREET, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA 3000 AUSTRALIA (Address of principal executive offices) |
BHP BILLITON PLC (REG. NO. 3196209) (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
ENGLAND AND WALES (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)
NEATHOUSE PLACE, VICTORIA, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM (Address of principal executive offices) |
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13 August 2007
Number 25/07
BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES GAS DISCOVERY
AT THEBE-1 OFFSHORE AUSTRALIA
BHP Billiton announced today a discovery at the Thebe-1 exploration well that was recently drilled offshore Western Australia. The well and subsequent evaluation 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 block WA-346-P using the semi-submersible rig Atwood Eagle. The well is located approximately 186 miles (300 kilometres) off the North West coast of Western Australia in water depths of 3,848 feet (1173 metres). The well has now been abandoned after reservoir core was collected. BHP Billiton is the operator at Thebe-1 and holds a 100 percent interest in the field.
"The Thebe discovery is an excellent addition to our global portfolio. The results are encouraging and we will now proceed with further data gathering and evaluation," said Steve O'Rourke, President of Global Exploration for BHP Billiton Petroleum.
Thebe-1 is the second significant BHP Billiton gas discovery in the basin and is located approximately 31 miles (50 kilometres) north of the Scarborough gas field 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
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Australia Samantha Evans, Media Relations Tel: +61 3 9609 2898 Mobile: +61 400 693 915 email: Samantha.Evans@bhpbilliton.com Jane Belcher, Investor Relations |
United Kingdom Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 Mobile: +44 7769 934 942 email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com Illtud Harri, Media Relations |
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United States Tracey Whitehead, Investor Relations Tel: US +1 713 599 6100 or UK +44 20 7802 4031 Mobile: +44 7917 648 093 email: Tracey.Whitehead@bhpbilliton.com |
South Africa Alison Gilbert, Investor Relations Tel SA: +27 11 376 2121 or UK: +44 20 7802 4183 Mobile: +44 7769 936 227 email: Alison.Gilbert@bhpbilliton.com |
| BHP Billiton Limited ABN
49 004 028 077 Registered in Australia Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone +61 1300 554 757 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015 |
BHP Billiton Plc
Registration number 3196209 Registered in England and Wales Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111 |
The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia
| Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. |
| BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc | ||
| Date: 13 August 2007 | By: |
Jane McAloon |
| Name: | Jane McAloon | |
| Title: | Group Company Secretary |