Drilling Report
Total S.A.
21 May 2007
Two further oil discoveries on Block 32, in the Angolan ultra deep offshore
Paris, May 21, 2007 - Sociedade Nacional de Combustiveis de Angola (Sonangol)
and Total E&P Angola, a wholly owned subsidiary of Total, announce two new oil
discoveries with the tenth and eleventh exploration wells drilled on Block 32 in
the ultra deep waters of the Angolan offshore.
Drilled in a water depth of 1,594 metres, the Cominhos-1 well encountered Upper
and Lower Oligocene oil bearing reservoirs. The well was tested from a selected
Lower Oligocene interval and produced at a rate of 6,258 barrels per day of oil
32degrees API. This discovery is located in the north-eastern part of Block 32,
approximately 18 kilometres north of the Caril-1, discovery made in 2006.
Drilled in a water depth of 1,806 metres, the Louro-1 well found both Miocene
and Oligocene oil bearing reservoirs. This discovery is located in the Southern
part of Block 32, approximately 4.5 kilometres west of the Salsa-1 discovery
made in 2006.
Complementary technical studies are being carried out to fully evaluate these
promising drilling results, and further exploration drilling is underway or
planned across the block.
Sonangol is the concessionaire of Block 32. Total E&P Angola (Block 32) Limited
holds a 30% interest as Operator. Other partners in Block 32 are Marathon Oil
Company (30%), Sonangol E.P. (20%), Esso Exploration and Production Angola
(Overseas) Limited (15%) and Petrogal (5%).
Ultra-deep exploration work conducted in 2005 and 2006 confirmed the potential
of Block 32. After the discoveries of Gindungo in 2003, Canela and Cola in 2004,
Gengibre and Mostarda drilled in 2005, Salsa, Caril and Manjericao drilled in
2006, the positive results from Louro and Cominhos confirmed the major potential
of the Block. Conceptual development studies gathering the Gindungo, Canela and
Gengibre discoveries were initiated in 2005 in order to exploit these
discoveries in a production zone, in the central eastern part of the block.
Studies will be initiated to evaluate the development potential of the other
discoveries.
Total in Angola
Total is present in Angola since 1953 and held beginning of 2007 interests in
production permits both operated (Blocks 3 and 17) and non operated (Blocks 0,
and 14) and three exploration permits, one of which it operates (Block 32).
Deep-offshore Block 17 is Total's major asset in Angola. It is composed of four
major zones : Girassol and Dalia, both in production; Pazflor, which is in the
bidding process before sanction; and CLOV, a fourth major production area based
on the Cravo, Lirio, Violeta and Orquidea discoveries, whose development is
currently being studied. Future production from these fields will come in
addition to 500,000 barrels of oil per day that are currently pumped from
Girassol and Dalia structures on the Block 17. Connected to the Girassol FPSO,
Rosa will start production in the second quarter of 2007, enabling the FPSO to
extend the production plateau to the maximum of its capacity.
Total is one of the world's major oil and gas groups, with activities in more
than 130 countries. Its 95,000 employees put their expertise to work in every
part of the industry - exploration and production of oil and natural gas,
refining and marketing, gas trading and electricity. Total is working to keep
the world supplied with energy, both today and tomorrow. The Group is also a
first rank player in chemicals, www.total.com
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