Total takes deepwater Cote d'Ivoire interest

Offshore staff

PARIS – Total has agreed with Yam’s Petroleum to acquire 60% interest in the Cl-100 license 100 km (62 mi) southeast of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in water depths of 1,500 m to 3,100 m (4,921 ft to 10,171 ft).

Total says Yam’s Petroleum has done initial 3D seismic work and a new 1,000 sq km (386 sq mi) 3D program is planned to cover the remaining area of the license. Drilling is to start in 2012.

“This is a promising area whose geological objectives are similar to that of major discoveries that have been made in the neighboring blocks in Ghana,” says Marc Blaisot, senior VP, Geosciences, Total Exploration & Production.

Total becomes operator of the 2,000 sq km (722 sq mi) license with Yam’s Petroleum retaining 25% and Côte d’Ivoire’s national oil company, Petroci, holds 15%.

11/02/2010