OilVoice - Total Announces New discovery in the Republic of Congo

Total Announces New discovery in the Republic of Congo

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Total announces today positive results for the Moho Nord Marine-4 (MHNM-4) well, approximately 75 kilometres offshore of the Republic of Congo, in a water depth of 1,078 metres in the northern part of the Moho-Bilondo license. The discovery follows on from the Moho Nord Marine-1 and 2 finds in 2007 and the positive delineation well of Moho Nord Marine-3 (MHNM-3) in 2008.

These discoveries reinforce Total’s confidence in the emergence of a development pole in the northern part of the Moho-Bilondo license.

The Phase 1 development of the southern part of Moho-Bilondo, where production began in April 2008, is currently continuing with drilling of further wells that will permit the plateau of 90 000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to be reached in 2010. The development is comprised of fourteen subsea wells tied back to a Floating Production Unit (FPU) with output exported to the onshore Djéno terminal.

Total E&P Congo holds a 53.5% interest in the license, alongside Chevron Overseas Congo Ltd. (31.5%) and Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (15%).

Moho Nord Marine-4

Moho Nord Marine-4 was drilled to a total depth of 4,239 metres, in the Albian series, 4.4 kilometres northwest of the Tertiary structure drilled by MHNM-3. The well proved a 163 metres column of high quality oil in the Albian F structure and flowed at 8,100 barrels per day through a 52/64” choke.

This discovery confirms the existence of significant Albian resources in the northern part of the Moho-Bilondo license, in addition to the already recognised Tertiary and Albian A and B resources. Preliminary development studies with a view to develop the Moho Nord resources have been launched.

Total Exploration and Production in the Republic of Congo

Total is the largest petroleum operator in the country, representing a little more than 50% of national production. The Group’s share of production reached 89,000 barrels oil equivalent per day in 2008.

Total E&P Congo has drilled half of all the exploration wells in the Congo, and begun production on 15 fields covering 9 of the 28 existing permits or concessions, and discovered 65% of initial listed reserves in the country.

On Nkossa (Total 53%, operator), the work programme undertaken since 2005 has enabled the decline of the field to be countered and potential production to be maintained at 50,000 barrels per day.

The development project for Libondo (Total 65%, operator), a satellite of Yanga, was launched in October 2008. It includes an important element of local development, with the re-opening of a building yard in Pointe Noire, which will help to create approximately 1,000 direct and indirect jobs.

In addition, the exploration of the Mer Très Profonde Sud (MTPS) (Total 40%, operator) permit, on which 5 discoveries have been made up until now, is continuing.

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