DTI Approval

Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ld
11 January 2000


Ref 03/00

BHP RECEIVES APPROVAL TO DEVELOP KEITH OIL FIELD IN UK NORTH SEA

The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited (BHP) today announced BHP
Petroleum and its partners in North Sea Block 9/8a have received approval from
the UK Department of Trade and Industry to develop the Keith oil field.

Keith is located 320km north east of Aberdeen and lies close to the BP
Amoco-operated Bruce oil field, in which BHP Petroleum has a 16 per cent
equity.   The Keith development is consistent with BHP's efforts to deliver
value enhancements from existing and new assets by exploiting near field
potential.

The subsea development of Keith will involve the re-use of a suspended
appraisal well, 9/8a-14, which will be tied back some 7km to the Bruce Western
Area Development (WAD).  This single well will access around 15 million
barrels of oil equivalent of proved and probable reserves (4.8 mmboe net to
BHP) with capital expenditure estimated at around A$62 million (A$19 m net
BHP).  Drilling activity associated with well re-entry and completion is
scheduled to begin in the third quarter 2000 with first oil targeted for the
end of the year.  

The performance of the reservoir during this single production well phase will
determine to what extent, if any, further development of the geologically
complex Keith field is justified.  Future phases, if appropriate, offer the
potential for significant additional volumes of hydrocarbons and would be
subject to a separate approvals process.

BHP Petroleum holds a 31.83 per cent operated interest in the Keith field with
partners BP Amoco Exploration (34.83 per cent), Elf Exploration (23.33 per
cent) Veba Oil & Gas (8.33 per cent) and Total Oil Marine (1.67 per cent).  

Contact: 
Media Relations:   Dr Malcolm Garratt, Manager External Affairs, BHP Petroleum
                   Tel: [phone]
       
                   Mandy Frostick, Manager Media Relations, BHP Group
                   Tel: [phone]       Mobile:[phone]

Investor Relations:Dr Robert Porter, Vice President Investor Relations
                   Tel:[phone]       Mobile:+61 [phone]

                   Chris Huntley (London)
                   Tel:[phone]