Total acquires interests in three deep-offshore exploration blocks

French oil and gas company Total announces it has signed cooperation agreements with Talisman Energy (?Talisman?) to farm-in into three deep-offshore exploration blocks in the Makassar Strait in Indonesia.

Total has acquired from Talisman:
? 50% interest in the Sageri Production Sharing Contract (PSC), with Talisman now holding the remaining 50% interest,
? 35% interest in the South Sageri PSC, alongside Talisman (35%) and PTTEP (30%),
? 20% interest in the Sadang PSC, in cooperation with Talisman (40%) and PTTEP (40%).

The three blocks, operated by Talisman, are located in the offshore South Makassar Basin, at a depth of between 400 and 2,000 metres. They cover a total area of 10,693 square kilometres. The work commitments during the exploration period include acquiring 2D and 3D seismic as well as drilling two exploration wells. The first exploration well is planned to be spudded in the Sageri block by the end of 2011.

?With these acquisitions, Total pursues its strategy to further expand its acreage in new exploration areas, namely in deep offshore, and to continue investing in Indonesia in line with the government of Indonesia's efforts to tap potential hydrocarbon reserves of the country,? said Jean-Marie Guillermou, Senior Vice-President Asia Pacific, Exploration and Production. ?In the Makassar Strait, we will contribute with our deep-offshore experience and, if a discovery is made, benefit from potential synergy with our existing operations in the area. (godang)