BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - BHP Billiton approves rev20 Jan 2011
BIL
BIBLT                                                                           
BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - BHP Billiton approves revised costs for Kipper and     
Turrum Petroleum Projects                                                       
BHP Billiton Plc                                                                
Share code:    BIL                                                              
ISIN:          GB0000566504                                                     
NEWS RELEASE                                                                    
Release    IMMEDIATE                                                            
Time                                                                            
Date       20 January 2011                                                      
Number     01/11                                                                
BHP BILLITON APPROVES REVISED COSTS FOR KIPPER AND TURRUM PETROLEUM PROJECTS    
BHP Billiton today announced the approval of increased capital expenditure for  
the Esso Australia operated Kipper and Turrum projects in the Gippsland Basin,  
offshore Victoria.                                                              
Kipper`s capital expenditure has increased to US$900 million (BHP Billiton      
share) and the facilities are now forecast to be completed in calendar year     
2012. Mercury was encountered in the reservoir during development drilling and  
mercury mitigation will be managed as a separate project. The timing of first   
production is subject to resolution of the mercury related issues.              
Turrum`s expenditure has been adjusted to US$1,350 million (BHP Billiton share) 
and is now forecast to begin production in calendar year 2013.                  
Additional design and fabrication of key structural components has delayed      
installation and increased the offshore hook up campaign resulting in the cost  
and schedule adjustments.                                                       
The Kipper field has confirmed resources of approximately 620 billion cubic feet
of recoverable gas and 30 million barrels of oil and gas liquids. Turrum is     
expected to recover approximately 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 110  
million barrels of oil and gas liquids, on a 100 per cent basis.                
The Kipper Unit Joint Venture participants are Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd 
(32.5 per cent and operator); BHP Billiton (32.5 per cent); and Santos (35.0 per
cent).                                                                          
Turrum is part of the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture in which BHP Billiton and   
Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd (operator), each have a 50 per cent interest.  
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements                       
This document contains certain forward-looking statements relating to the       
business, financial performance and results of the Company and/or the industry  
in which it operates. Forward-looking statements concern future circumstances   
and results and other statements that are not historical facts, sometimes       
identified by the words "believes", "expects", "predicts", "intends",           
"projects", "plans", "estimates", "aims", "foresees", "anticipates", "targets", 
and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements, contained in this      
document, including assumptions, opinions and views of the Company or cited from
third party sources are solely opinions and forecasts which are uncertain and   
subject to risks. A multitude of factors can cause actual events to differ      
significantly from any anticipated development. Neither the Company nor any of  
its subsidiaries nor any of its officers or employees guarantees that the       
assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor 
does any of the foregoing accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of  
the opinions expressed in this document or the actual occurrence of the         
forecasted developments.                                                        
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site:          
www.bhpbilliton.com                                                             
Australia                               United Kingdom & South Africa           
Brendan Harris, Investor Relations      Andre Liebenberg, Investor Relations    
Tel: +61 3 9609 4323  Mobile: +61 437   Tel: +44 20 7802 4131  Mobile: +44 7920 
134 814                                 236 974                                 
email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com   email: Andre.Liebenberg@bhpbilliton.com 
                                                                                
Leng Lau, Investor Relations            United Kingdom & Americas               
Tel: +61 3 9609 4202  Mobile: +61 403   Ruban Yogarajah, Media Relations        
533 706                                 Tel: US +1 713 966 2907 or UK +44 20    
email: Leng.Y.Lau@bhpbilliton.com       7802 4033                               
                                       Mobile: UK +44 7827 082 022              
Amanda Buckley, Media Relations         email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com  
Tel: +61 3 9609 2209  Mobile: +61 419                                           
801 349                                 Americas                                
email: Amanda.Buckley@bhpbilliton.com   Scott Espenshade, Investor Relations    
Tel: +1 713 599 6431   Mobile: +1 713    
Kelly Quirke, Media Relations           208 8565                                
Tel: +61 3 9609 2896  Mobile: +61 429   email: Scott.Espenshade@bhpbilliton.com 
966 312                                                                         
email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com                                             
Fiona Martin, Media Relations                                                   
Tel: +61 3 9609 2211  Mobile: +61 427                                           
777 908                                                                         
email: Fiona.Martin2@bhpbilliton.com                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077 BHP Billiton Plc Registration number    
Registered in Australia                 3196209                                 
Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street  Registered in England and Wales         
Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia       Registered Office: Neathouse Place      
Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609     London SW1V 1BH United Kingdom          
3015                                    Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802    
                                       4111                                     
                                                                                
Members of the BHP Billiton group which is headquartered in Australia           
Date: 20/01/2011 07:07:02 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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