Drilling Report

Total S.A.
04 January 2006


     UK North Sea:  Start-Up of the Forvie North Field

Paris, January 4, 2006 - Total announces that the Forvie North gas and
condensates field has just started production, nine months after official
approval of the development plans by the British Authorities.

Total owns (100%) and operates the field which is located approximately 440
kilometers north-east of Aberdeen in a water depth of 120 metres. Forvie
North has been developed using subsea technologies and is connected to
the processing and transport installations of Alwyn North, 33 kilometres
away.

The expected production of Forvie North at plateau is around 20,000 barrels of 
oil equivalent per day.

The Forvie North start-up illustrates the willingness of Total to continue
exploring the UK Continental Shelf and rapidly developing resulting economic
discoveries.





Total is the fourth largest oil and gas company in the world with operations in
more than 130 countries. Total's activities cover the whole energy chain of the
petroleum industry: exploration, oil and gas production, refining and marketing,
trading and power generation. The Group is also a major player in chemicals.
Total has more than 111,000 employees worldwide. More information can be found
on the company's website: www.total.com


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