The Independent | BHP Billiton: World's largest mining company to quit US shale oil and gas as profit surges The Independent BHP Billiton, the world's largest miner, reported a surge in underlying full-year profits on Tuesday and said it would exit its underperforming US shale oil and gas business, pleasing disgruntled shareholders who had called for a sale. The Anglo ... Mining giant BHP returns to profit, sells US oil assets |