BHP Billiton today announced it has approved an expenditure of US$625 million (BHP Billiton share) for the full field development of the Turrum oil and gas field, a significant hydrocarbon resource in the Gippsland Basin, offshore Victoria. The Turrum development will produce new supplies of natural gas and liquids through new and existing Bass Strait facilities.

Turrum is part of the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture in which BHP Billiton and ExxonMobil subsidiary, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd (operator), each have a 50 per cent interest.

BHP Billiton Petroleum Chief Executive J. Michael Yeager said the Turrum project would build on BHP Billiton’s long-life producing assets in Bass Strait and follows the recent approval of the Kipper Gas Field Development in December 2007.

"BHP Billiton’s investment to develop the Turrum field is yet another step in delivering significant value to our shareholders, while also adding new supplies of oil and natural gas to meet the future energy needs of South Eastern Australia. Our Bass Strait resource base continues to have significant opportunities to develop, even after producing for nearly four decades."

The development consists of a new platform, Marlin B, linked by a bridge to the existing Marlin A platform. Marlin A will require upgrading to accommodate the bridge and new equipment. The field is expected to start up in 2011. Initially gas will be injected back into the reservoir after capturing oil and gas liquids. Gas sales are expected to then commence in 2015 at approximately 200 million cubic feet per day, on a 100 per cent basis. All products will be processed by the Gippsland Basin Joint Venture facilities.

The Turrum field is located 42 kilometres from shore in about 60 metres of water. Full field development 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.