Drilling Report

Total Fina Elf.
23 May 2000

                                                    
                  TOTAL FINA ELF ANNOUNCES NEW DEEP OFFSHORE DISCOVERY 
                                IN CONGO REPUBLIC

Paris, May 23, 2000 - TotalFinaElf announces a new oil discovery on the Mer Tres
Profonde Sud (MTPS) permit, located approximately 200 kilometers southwest of
Pointe Noire.  The permit was awarded in May 1997 and covers an area of more
than 5,000 square kilometers with water depths ranging from 1,500 to 3,000
meters.  TotalFinaElf is the operator (40%) along with partners Agip (30%) and
ExxonMobil (30%).

The new discovery well, Andromede Marine 1 was the first well drilled on the
MTPS permit and set a record for the Republic of Congo by reaching a water depth
of 1,893 meters.  It encountered several oil-bearing levels, representing a
total of nearly 250 meters. 

Tests carried out on the well showed a total daily flow rate of 7,000 barrels of
high grade oil.  Additional work will be necessary in order to fully appraise
the discovery and its commercial potential. 

TotalFinaElf has strong positions in the Congo and ranks as the leading oil and
gas producer with a 1999 production output of 160,000 barrels of oil equivalent
coming mainly from Nkossa and Tchibouela deposits.

This new exploration success in the Congo follows the Akpo-1 discovery on Block
OPL 246 in Nigeria.  It is a highly positive indication for the Group, whose
upstream strategy in West Africa is focused on the exploration and exploitation
of first rate assets, notably in deep offshore in the Gulf of Guinea.

                                   
Media Contact:
Thomas Saunders     33.1.47.44.42.30