Offshore staff

(West Africa) - Total has announced a new deepwater oil find in its Mer Tres Profond Sud block, 180 km offshore Pointe Noire in the Republic of Congo.

The Aurige Nord Marine 1 well, drilled to in waters 1,970 m deep to a total depth of 3,370 m, tested oil at 4,970 b/d.

The block, which was awarded in 1997, extends over more than 5,000 sq m.

This is the third discovery on the acreage, following Andromede 1 and Pegase Nord Marine 1.

Farther north offshore Cameroon, Total was recently awarded 100% of a new exploration concession on the 140 sq km Bomana block in the Rio Del Rey basin.

Partners are Pecten Cameroon and Societe Nationale des Hydrocarbures.

03-23-06