BHP Billiton platform starts production off Gulf

NEW YORK, July 6 (Reuters) - BHP Billiton (BLT.L: Quote, Profile, Research), a resources and oil exploration company, said on Sunday that it and its partners have begun oil and gas production from their Neptune development in the deep water of the Gulf of Mexico.

Neptune, located about 120 miles off the coast of Louisiana, is a standalone deepwater production platform in the Gulf of Mexico. The company said the operation is designed to handle up to 50,000 barrels of oil per day and 50 million cubic feet per day of natural gas.

The company has a 35 percent stake in the project. BHP Billiton's partners in the project include Marathon Oil Corp (MRO.N: Quote, Profile, Research), which has a 30 percent stake, Woodside Energy (USA) Inc with a 20 percent stake, and Maxus Exploration Company with 15 percent. (Reporting by Phil Wahba; Editing by Leslie Adler)