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BIL - BHP Billiton Plc - BHP Billiton exploration and development report for
the quarter ended 30 September 2011
BHP Billiton Plc
Share code: BIL
ISIN: GB0000566504
NEWS RELEASE
19 October 2011
30/11
BHP BILLITON EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT REPORT FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 30
SEPTEMBER 2011
This report covers the Group`s exploration and development activities for the
September 2011 quarter. Unless otherwise stated, BHP Billiton`s interest in
the projects referred to in this report is 100 per cent and references to
project schedules are based on calendar years.
Development
Western Australia Iron Ore (WAIO) Rapid Growth Project 5 (RGP5) was completed
on schedule during the September 2011 quarter and the ramp up of this well
timed project is now underway. Subsequent expansions to 240 million tonnes
per annum and beyond will leverage infrastructure installed as part of the
RGP5 project scope and enable BHP Billiton to fully utilise its inner harbour
capacity at Port Hedland. The North West Shelf CWLH Life Extension project
(Australia) was also completed on 24 September 2011. These projects will not
be reported in future Exploration and Development Reports.
During the September 2011 quarter, BHP Billiton continued to add to its
approved pipeline of high return, growth projects diversified across
commodity, geography and customer. Investments in energy coal totalling
US$804 million (BHP Billiton share) will facilitate a further phase of
expansion at the world class Cerrejon coal mine (Colombia) to approximately
40 million tonnes per annum (100 per cent basis) and the third stage of
development of the Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group`s (NCIG) coal handling
facility in Newcastle (Australia).
Project and Share of Initial Production Quarterly progress
ownership approved production capacity (100%)
capex target
(US$m) date
Petroleum
projects
Macedon 1,050 CY13 200 million On schedule and budget.
(Australia) cubic feet gas The overall project is
71.43% Gas per day. 39% complete.
Bass Strait 900 CY12 (a) 10,000 bpd On revised schedule and
Kipper condensate and budget. The overall
(Australia) processing project is 82% complete.
32.5% - 50% capacity of 80
Gas/Gas million cubic
Liquids feet gas per
day.
Bass Strait 1,350 CY13 11,000 bpd On revised schedule and
Turrum condensate and budget. The overall
(Australia) processing project is 69% complete.
50% Gas/Gas capacity of 200
Liquids million cubic
feet gas per
day.
North West 245 CY11 Replacement First production
Shelf CWLH vessel with achieved on 24 September
Life Extension capacity of 2011.
(Australia) 60,000 bpd oil.
16.67% Oil
North West 850 CY13 2,500 million On budget. Steady state
Shelf North cubic feet gas production remains on
Rankin B Gas per day. track for CY13. The
Compression overall project is 75%
(Australia) complete.
16.67% LNG
Minerals
projects
Worsley 2,995 Q1 CY12 1.1 million tpa On revised schedule and
Efficiency & of additional budget. The overall
Growth alumina. project is 84% complete.
(Australia)
86% Alumina
Antamina 435 Q4 CY11 Increases ore On schedule and budget.
Expansion processing The overall project is
(Peru) 33.75% capacity to 68% complete.
Copper 130,000 tpd.
Escondida Ore 319 Q2 CY12 The relocation On schedule and budget.
Access (Chile) of the in-pit The overall project is
57.5% Copper crushing and 57% complete.
conveyor
infrastructure
provides access
to higher grade
ore.
EKATI Misery 323 CY15 Project consists On schedule and budget.
Open Pit of a pushback of The overall project is
Project the existing 12% complete.
(Canada) 80% Misery open pit
Diamonds which was mined
from 2001 to
2005.
WAIO RGP5 4,800 H2 CY11 Scope review First production
(Australia) completed and achieved on schedule,
85%Iron Ore integrated into ramp up underway.
subsequent
expansion
approvals that
will increase
WAIO capacity to
220 million tpa.
WAIO Jimblebar 3,300 (b) Q1 CY14 Increases mining On schedule and budget.
Mine Expansion and processing The overall project is
(Australia) capacity to 35 15% complete.
96% Iron Ore million tpa with
incremental
debottlenecking
opportunities to
55 million tpa.
WAIO Port 1,900 (b) H2 CY12 Increases total On schedule and budget.
Hedland Inner inner harbour The overall project is
Harbour capacity to 220 35% complete.
Expansion million tpa with
(Australia) debottlenecking
85% Iron Ore opportunities to
240 million tpa.
WAIO Port 1,400 (b) H2 CY14 Optimises On schedule and budget.
Blending and resource and The overall project is
Rail Yard enhances 11% complete.
Facilities efficiency
(Australia) across the WAIO
85% Iron Ore supply chain.
Samarco Fourth 1,750 H1 CY14 Increases iron On schedule and budget.
Pellet Plant ore pellet The overall project is
(Brazil) 50% production 9% complete.
Iron Ore capacity by 8.3
million tpa to
30.5 million
tpa.
Daunia 800 CY13 Greenfield mine On schedule and budget.
(Australia) development with The overall project is
50% capacity to 18% complete.
Metallurgical produce 4.5
Coal million tpa of
export
metallurgical
coal.
Broadmeadow 450 CY13 Increases On schedule and budget.
Life Extension productive The overall project is
(Australia) capacity by 0.4 43% complete.
50% million tpa and
Metallurgical extends life of
Coal the mine by 21
years.
Hay Point 1,250 (b) CY14 Increases port On schedule and budget.
Stage Three capacity from 44 The overall project is
Expansion million tpa to 31% complete.
(Australia) 55 million tpa
50% and reduces
Metallurgical storm
Coal vulnerability.
RX1 Project 400 H2 CY13 Increases run-of-On schedule and budget.
(Australia) mine thermal The overall project is
100% Energy coal production 44% complete.
Coal by approximately
4 million tpa.
Cerrejon P40 437 CY13 Increases Approval announced. See
Project saleable thermal News Release dated 18
(Colombia) coal production August 2011.
33.3% Energy by 8 million tpa
Coal to approximately
40 million tpa.
Newcastle 367 CY14 Increases total Approval announced. See
Third Port coal terminal News Release dated 31
Project Stage capacity from 53 August 2011.
3 (Australia) million tpa to
35.5%Energy 66 million tpa.
Coal
Minerals exploration
Greenfield exploration continued on copper targets in South America, Mongolia
and Zambia; nickel and copper targets in Australia; and diamond targets in
Canada. Exploration for iron ore, potash and uranium was undertaken in a
number of regions including Australia, Africa and the Americas.
For the quarter ended 30 September 2011, BHP Billiton spent US$255 million on
minerals exploration, of which US$213 million was expensed.
Petroleum exploration
Exploration and appraisal wells drilled during the quarter or in the process
of drilling as at 30 September 2011.
Well Location BHP Billiton equity Status
Deep Blue-1 Green Canyon Gulf of 31.875% Drilling ahead
Mexico (Noble operator)
GC 723
Mad Dog North-Green Canyon Gulf of 23.9% Hydrocarbons
1 Mexico (BP operator) (c) encountered
GC 738 See News Release
dated 7 September
2011
Drilling ahead
Bao Dom May-1 Western Trough 50% Plugged and
Vietnam (Operator) abandoned
Block 28 Dry hole
Argus-2 Browse Basin 40% Temporarily
Australia (Woodside operator) abandoned
AC/RL 8
Jurjur-1 Sabah Malaysia 60% Temporarily
Block N (Operator) suspended for
equipment repairs
Julong Centre Brunei 22.5% Drilling ahead
Block CA-01 (Total operator)
Canteen North Trinidad and Tobago 45% Plugged and
Block 2C (Operator) abandoned
Hydrocarbons
encountered
Seraph-1 North West Shelf 16.67% Drilling ahead
Australia (Woodside operator)
WA-3-L
Petroleum exploration expenditure for the quarter ended 30 September 2011 was
US$155 million, of which US$64 million was expensed. Our guidance for
petroleum exploration expenditure for the 2012 financial year is US$1
billion, excluding Onshore US exploration.
This report, together with the Production Report, represents the Interim
Management Statement for the purposes of the UK Listing Authority`s
Disclosure and Transparency Rules. There have been no significant changes to
the financial position of the Group in the quarter ended 30 September 2011,
other than those arising from the Group`s previously announced acquisition of
Petrohawk Energy Corporation that was completed during the period which
affected the Group`s cash reserves, net debt and gearing levels.
(a) Facilities ready for first production pending resolution of mercury
content.
(b) Excludes announced pre-commitment funding.
(c) BHP Billiton is operator of the well.
****
Further information on BHP Billiton can be found at: www.bhpbilliton.com
Sponsor: Absa Capital (the investment banking division of Absa Bank Limited,
affiliated with Barclays Capital)
Media Relations
Australia
Samantha Stevens
Tel: +61 3 9609 2898 Mobile: +61 400 693 915
email: Samantha.Stevens@bhpbilliton.com
Kelly Quirke
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email: Kelly.Quirke@bhpbilliton.com
Fiona Martin
Tel: +61 3 9609 2211 Mobile: +61 427 777 908
email: Fiona.Martin2@bhpbilliton.com
United Kingdom and Americas
Ruban Yogarajah
Tel: US +1 713 966 2907 or UK +44 20 7802 4033
Mobile: UK +44 7827 082 022
email: Ruban.Yogarajah@bhpbilliton.com
Investor Relations
Australia
James Agar
Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: +61 467 807 064
email: James.Agar@bhpbilliton.com
Andrew Gunn
Tel: +61 3 9609 3575 Mobile: +61 439 558 454
email: Andrew.Gunn@bhpbilliton.com
United Kingdom and South Africa
Brendan Harris
Tel: +44 20 7802 4131 Mobile: +61 437 134 814
email: Brendan.Harris@bhpbilliton.com
Americas
Scott Espenshade
Tel: +1 713 599 6431 Mobile: +1 713 208 8565
email: Scott.Espenshade@bhpbilliton.com
BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077
Registered in Australia
Registered Office: 180 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia
Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015
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Members of the BHP Billiton Group which is headquartered in Australia
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