Uruguay - Total Awarded an Exploration License ...

Uruguay - Total Awarded an Exploration License for Block 14

Total

Total (Paris:FP) (LSE:TTA) (NYSE:TOT) announces that it has been awarded an exploration license for Uruguay’s offshore Block 14, following the second bidding round held by the national company, ANCAP. This license remains subject to further approval by Uruguayan authorities.

Block 14 has a surface area of 6,690 km² and is located in the Pelotas Basin 250 km offshore. Water depths in this highly-promising and under-explored area range from 2,000 to 3,500 meters.

“Our successful bid on Block 14 is consistent with Total’s bold exploration strategy focused on exploring new, high-potential plays. The bidding process for this particular block was very competitive in terms of the proposed work program and financial commitment, and we are delighted with our success,” said Marc Blaizot, Total’s Senior Vice President, Exploration. “Together with our recently-acquired licenses in Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mauritania and Angola, this award in Uruguay further increases our potential for frontier exploration.”

Total has additional Exploration and Production assets in the Southern Cone, notably interests in Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia.

* * * * *

Total is one of the largest integrated oil and gas companies in the world, with activities in more than 130 countries. The Group is also a first rank player in chemicals. Its 96,000 employees put their expertise to work in every part of the industry – exploration and production of oil and natural gas, refining and marketing, new energies, trading, and chemicals. Total is working to help satisfy the global demand for energy, both today and tomorrow. www.total.com

Total
Tel. : [phone]
Fax : [phone]
Martin DEFFONTAINES
Laurent KETTENMEYER
Matthieu GOT
Karine KACZKA
Robert PERKINS
or
Robert HAMMOND (U.S.)
Tel. : [phone]
Fax : (1) 713-483-5629