Offshore staff
(West Africa) - Total SA has planned to do maintenance at Girassol offshore Angola from mid-May to late June.
One 950,000-bbl cargo of crude from Girassol (producing at 200,000 b/d) is scheduled to load in June, down from three in May.
The oilfield maintenance will further reduce overall West African oil output, now at 3/4 normal following militant attacks that have cut output.
Lower supply from Nigeria has been one factor widely implicated in boosting crude oil prices to a record high of more than $75 a barrel last week.
Exports will be down in May and June from the monthly lifting program of up to seven to eight cargoes.
The field is 200 km from the mainland in waters of 1,400 m in depth in the Gulf of Guinea.
Total operates the field, holding a 40% stake. Other equity holders are ExxonMobil, BP Plc, Statoil, and Norsk Hydro.
04/27/06
