PNOC Exploration Corp. (PEC.PH) said Wednesday it has signed a joint venture agreement with BHP Billiton Petroleum to develop the West Balabac offshore oil block in the central Philippines.

Under the agreement, BHP will operate Block SC 59, or the West Balabac project, with a 75% stake. PNOC-EC will hold the remaining 25%, PNOC-EC said in a statement to the stock exchange.

PNOC-EC's exploration and production license over West Balabac covers around 14,760 square kilometers and is located in the Palawan Basin.

The contract to explore and develop the project was awarded to PNOC-EC in January 2006.

BHP Billiton Petroleum is a unit of BHP Billiton Ltd. (BHP)

-By Rhea Sandique-Carlos, Dow Jones Newswires; 632-848-5051; rhea.sandique-carlos@dowjones.com