Stmt re Development Approval

Total Fina Elf.
5 July 2002


 
        Norway: TotalFinaElf receives development approval for the Skirne 
                            and Byggve fields

Paris, July 5, 2002 - TotalFinaElf received development approval from the
Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy for the Skirne and Byggve gas and
condensate fields located in Production License 102 (PL 102) in the south 
central portion of Block 25/5, in Norwegian North Sea. TotalFinaElf is the 
operator of PL 102 holding a 40% interest in partnership with Petoro, Marathon 
and Norsk Hydro.

The approved Plan for Development and Operation (PDO) provides for the subsea
development of the Skirne and Byggve fields via two single-well tie-backs (one
on each field) in 120 metres of water. The produced gas and condensate will be
transported to existing treatment facilities at the Heimdal Gas Centre, around
20 kilometres west of the fields.

Processed gas will be exported to either Norway (via the Norwegian system) or
the UK (via the Vesterled system). Condensate will be exported to Scotland.

Production from the two fields is planned to start at the end 2003 and reach
around 34,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2004.

Present in Norway for more than thirty years, TotalFinaElf is a leading oil and
gas producer, with a production of around 350,000 barrels of oil equivalent per
day in 2001.

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