The SC55 joint venture has received formal clearance from the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), according to operator BHP Billiton Petroleum. Partner Otto Energy Ltd. said that it had been notified by BHP, the operator of Service Contract 55 offshore the Philippines, that it had received formal Strategic Environmental Plan Clearance from the PCSD to drill the Cinco-1 prospect in the licence. BHP has engaged with the Philippine Department of Energy regarding the revised timing of the work programme commitments and it is expected that this will be the subject of a separate announcement shortly, added Otto.