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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Date of 30 June 2003
BHP Billiton Limited
ABN 49 004 028 077
600 Bourke Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Australia
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
| Form 20-F | X | Form 40-F |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
| Yes | No | X |
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
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Date |
30 June 2003 |
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Number |
23/03 |
BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES OIL DISCOVERY WITH CHINOOK E-WELL IN DEEPWATER GULF OF MEXICO
BHP Billiton today announced that it has made an oil discovery at its second exploratory well on the Chinook prospect in the ultra-deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Drilled in water depths of approximately 8,830 feet (2,684 meters), the well exceeded a total depth of 27,650 feet (8,406 meters), encountering a gross hydrocarbon column of 620 feet (188 meters) with 260 feet (79 meters) of net oil pay.
The Chinook discovery is located more than 300 kilometers (180 miles) from the Louisiana coast in Walker Ridge Block 469, approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) south of the previously announced Cascade discovery.
Steve Bell, President of Exploration and Business Development for BHP Billiton Petroleum, said today: "This is a very encouraging result on a large structure. Of course, it is early days and the result must be seen in perspective. While this is the deepest penetration to date on Chinook, we must have more appraisal data before we can be definitive about the scale of resource. Importantly, this strengthens our inventory of BHP Billiton-operated discoveries in the area. With Shenzi, Cascade, Neptune, and Vortex, we have a full appraisal programme in place to evaluate and, if successful, create more value by ultimately commercialising these hydrocarbon accumulations."
Drilling on Chinook-3 began January 13, 2003, using the BHP Billiton operated drillship C.R. Luigs. BHP Billiton owns a 40 percent interest and is the designated operator of Chinook with Petrobras owning a 30 percent interest, and Total and Amerada Hess each holding a 15 percent interest.
BHP Billiton holds interests in more than 340 blocks in the Gulf of Mexico, where the company is actively exploring for oil and gas. Deepwater projects sanctioned for development include the Atlantis and Mad Dog oil and gas fields, in addition to producing assets at Typhoon and Boris. In the past year the company has announced discoveries at Cascade, Shenzi, and Vortex, all of which are located in deep- and ultra-deepwater blocks.
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://www.bhpbilliton.com
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Australia Tel: +61 3 9609 3952 Mobile: +61 408 313 259 email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com |
United Kingdom Tel: +44 20 7802 4156 email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com |
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Tania Price, Media Relations |
Ariane Gentil, Media Relations |
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United States Tel: +1 713 961 8625 Mobile: +1 713 480 3699 email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com |
South Africa Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations Tel: +27 11 376 3360 Mobile: +27 82 458 2587 email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com |
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BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 Registered Office: 600 Bourke Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone +61 3 9609 3333 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015 |
BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209 Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111 |
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The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia
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SIGNATURES
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
/s/ KAREN WOOD
_____________________
Karen Wood
Title: Company Secretary
Date: 30 June 2003