BHP makes Carnarvon basin gas discovery

BHP Billiton Ltd., Melbourne, has made a gas discovery with its Thebe-1 exploration well on Block WA-346-P in the Exmouth Plateau of the Carnarvon basin 186 miles off Western Australia.

Aug. 16, 2007

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Aug. 16 -- BHP Billiton Ltd., Melbourne, has made a gas discovery with its Thebe-1 exploration well on Block WA-346-P in the Exmouth Plateau of the Carnarvon basin 186 miles off Western Australia. Thebe-1 is the company's second significant gas discovery in the basin.

The well, which Atwood Oceanics Inc.'s Atwood Eagle semisubmersible drilled in 3,848 ft of water, encountered a 240-ft gas column. Cores were collected, and the well has been temporarily abandoned, a company spokeswoman said.

BHP Billiton will now proceed with further data gathering and evaluation, the company said. Additional well details were not disclosed.

BHP is the operator and 100% interest owner of Thebe-1. It lies about 31 miles north of Scarborough gas field, in which BHP is a 50% partner with ExxonMobil Corp.