Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. Announces Deepwater GoM Contract AwardSikorsky S-92 (Photo: Business Wire)Sikorsky S-76C+ (Photo: Bu

Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. ("PHI") (Nasdaq:PHEL)
(Nasdaq:PHELK) announced today that the Company was awarded a
three-year contract with one two-year option to provide helicopter
services for BHP Billiton in the U. S. Gulf of Mexico. The contract is
for one new Sikorsky S-92 transport category aircraft and one new
Sikorsky S-76C++ aircraft with options for additional aircraft.
Financial terms of the transaction are proprietary and were not
disclosed.
   Al A. Gonsoulin, Chairman/CEO of PHI, said, "We are very pleased
with this contract award by BHP Billiton. We believe the S-92 is
rapidly becoming the aircraft of choice for deepwater applications. We
at PHI appreciate the confidence shown by our customers in our
capabilities to support their operations."
   PHI provides helicopter transportation and related services to a
broad range of customers including the oil and gas industry, air
medical programs and the third-party maintenance business. PHI Common
Stock is traded on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market (symbols PHEL and
PHELK).