Stybarrow start-up due before year end

Offshore staff

PERTH, Australia –BHP Billiton says it expects the Stybarrow oil field to go into production before year end. The $760-milllion project off Western Australia is expected to reach 80,000 b/d.

Stybarrow involves subsea development and an FPSO. It is in WA-255-P some 65 km (40 mi) northwest of Exmouth in 800 m (2,625 ft) water depth.

BHP says the production rate will stay at that for about a year and then decline over its 10-year expected life span.

BHP is operator at Stybarrow with partner Woodside Petroleum Ltd. Each holds 50%.

BHP also has received approval to develop Pyrenees, its second field in the area, at a cost of $1.7 billion. It is expected to produce as much as 96,000 b/d of oil starting in the first half of 2010.

11/01/2007