Drilling Report

TOTAL FINA S.A.
5 August 1999


TOTAL FINA Confirms Discovery of Major Natural Gas Reserves in Bolivia


TOTAL Exploration Production Bolivia and its partners Mobil Boliviana de
Petroleos and Tesoro Bolivia Petroleum Company have successfully tested the
deep horizons of the TAU X-1 (A) discovery well on Block XX West located in the
Tarija region of Gran Chaco province in southern Bolivia. TOTAL Exploration
Production Bolivia is operator on the block with a 41% interest, while its
partners have interests of 34% and 25%, respectively.

The ITAU X-1 (A) well reached a final depth of 5,766 meters through Devonian
formations known locally as Huamampampa and Icla. The production test carried
out on the lower levels of these formations yielded 795,000 cubic meters of gas
a day and 610 barrels of condensate a day through a 3/4-inch choke.

An initial test performed in June 1999 in the upper levels of the Huamampampa
formations yielded 865,000 cubic meters of gas a day and 830 barrels of
condensate a day through the same choke. As a result, total output is
approximately 1,660,000 cubic meters of gas a day and 1,440 barrels of
condensate a day.

The discovery of a gas column more than 500 meters high has confirmed the extent
of the gas reserves on the Itau saddle axis, which extends over more than 30
kilometers in the XX West block.

Also in Bolivia, TOTALFINA is developing highly promising gas reserves on the
adjoining San Alberto and San Antonio blocks. The first development phase of the
San Alberto block should enable production in January 2001 at an initial rate of
4.5 million cubic meters of gas a day. Output will be used to supply the
Brazilian gas market, which is accessible via the Bolivia-Brazil gas pipeline
commissioned in July.