RNS Number:1484U
BHP Billiton PLC
13 January 2004

Date: 13 January 2004
Number:  01/04



                             BHP BILLITON ANNOUNCES

             OIL DISCOVERY AT PUMA WELL IN DEEPWATER GULF OF MEXICO


BHP Billiton today announced that it had completed drilling the Puma-1
exploration in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

The well encountered approximately 500 feet of net oil pay in Miocene
sandstones, and two subsequent sidetrack bores also encountered oil in reservoir
intervals of a similar age.

Steve Bell, President, Exploration and Business Development said today: "The
drilling result is encouraging, however, the well was drilled in a structurally
complex subsurface area and in a zone where seismic imaging data is of only
moderate quality.  Further seismic reprocessing and appraisal drilling will be
necessary to evaluate the size and significance of the discovery".

Drilling on Puma-1 began on August 14 2003 on Block GC 823 in the Western
Atwater Foldbelt using the BP-operated Ocean Confidence drillship.  The well is
located 140 miles from the Louisiana coast and eight miles from the company's
Mad Dog development.  The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 19,034
feet in a water depth of 4130 feet.  Technical data was taken from the straight
hole and sidetrack bores.

BHP Billiton has a 33.34% interest in Puma with BP (operator) 51.66% and Unocal
15%.



Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: http://
www.bhpbilliton.com


Australia                                              United Kingdom
Andrew Nairn, Investor Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3952  Mobile: +61 408 313 259          Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
email: Andrew.W.Nairn@bhpbilliton.com                  Tel: +44 20 7802 4156
                                                       email: Mark.Lidiard@bhpbilliton.com
Tania Price, Media Relations
Tel: +61 3 9609 3815  Mobile: +61 419 152 780
email: Tania.Price@bhpbilliton.com

United States
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations                 South Africa
Tel: +1 713 961 8625  Mobile: +1 713 480 3699          Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations

email: Francis.R.McAllister@bhpbilliton.com            Tel: +27 11 376 3360  Mobile: +27 82 458 2587

                                                       email: Michael.J.Campbell@bhpbilliton.com


BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                     BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                     Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne  Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United
Victoria 3000                                               Kingdom
Telephone +61 1300 554 757 Facsimile +61 3 9609 3015        Telephone +44 20 7802 4000 Facsimile +44 20 7802 4111

               The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia






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