BHP BILLITON PLC
BHP Billiton today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, BHP Petroleum
(Trinidad) Ltd., has extended the hydrocarbon discoveries previously made in
the Block 2(c) Production Sharing Contract area, offshore Trinidad, with its
third exploration well. The Kairi-1 well has been abandoned after
encountering an encouraging hydrocarbon column.
The well began drilling on July 4, 2001, in Trinidad's offshore block 2(c),
nearly 35 kilometers from the northeastern tip of Trinidad's coastline, and
four kilometers from BHP Billiton's Aripo-1 gas discovery. Using the jack-up
rig Global Labrador 1, the well was drilled to a depth exceeding 2,200
metres in waters approximately 35 metres deep.
The significance of the well will be assessed following further evaluation
of drilling and resource data.  Further appraisal drilling will be required
to determine the size of the discovery. Additionally, further technical
appraisal requirements and development options for the area also are being
evaluated.
This well has been drilled in an area where BHP Billiton has made earlier
hydrocarbon discoveries with the exploratory wells Angostura-1 and Aripo-1
that were drilled in 1999 and 2000, respectively.  A further exploration
well, Spitfire-1, drilled in the adjacent Block 2(ab) was plugged and
abandoned dry during the second quarter of 2001. The Company is actively
pursuing a strategy for commercialisation of the resources in the area.
BHP Billiton is the designated operator and holds a 45 per cent working
interest in Block 2(c).  Its partners are Elf Petroleum Trinidad B.V. with a
30 per cent interest and Talisman (Trinidad) Ltd. with a 25 per cent
interest.
****
BHP Billiton is a world leading diversified resources Group and creates
value through the discovery, development and conversion of natural resources
and the provision of innovative customer and market-focused solutions.  The
Group is a Dual Listed Company, comprised of BHP Billiton Limited and BHP
Billiton Plc, and is headquartered in Australia.
Further information about BHP Billiton can be found at:
http://www.bhpbilliton.com  or contact:
Australia
Dr. Robert Porter, Investor Relations
Tel: + 61 3 9609 3540  Mobile: +61 419 587 456
email: Robert.Porter@bhpbilliton.com
United Kingdom
Marc Gonsalves, Investor Relations & Communications
Tel: +44 20 7747 3956  Mobile: +44 7768 264 950
email: Marc.Gonsalves@bhpbilliton.com
Mandy Frostick, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 4157  Mobile: +61 419 546 245
email: Mandy.J.Frostick@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
United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations
Tel: +1 713 961 8625  Mobile: +1 713 480 3699
email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com