French oil and gas company Total has been awarded new exploration and production (E&P) contracts for two offshore blocks in Mauritania
Total and the Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines of Mauritania have signed an agreement for Blocks C15 and C31, which covers an area of 14,175 sq km, the company said in a press release.
Total will operate these two blocks with a 90 per cent interest, while Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures et de Patrimoine Minier (SMHPM) will hold the remaining 10 per cent.
Combined with its participation and operations in Blocks C7, C9 and C18, the award of these new blocks strengthens Total's position in the emerging hydrocarbon basin offshore Mauritania, the statement added.
Arnaud Breuillac, president exploration and production at Total, said, “This agreement contributes to the implementation of Total’s strategy that aims to explore basins in proven yet underexplored petroleum systems.”
“The addition of these new blocks to our existing positions demonstrates our commitment to the development of the Mauritanian oil sector and will enhance Total’s presence in West Africa, one of the Group’s core exploration areas,” he added.
The company stated that from Mauritania to Senegal, Ivory Coast and Nigeria, this core area comprises half of Total’s acreage in Africa, as the Mauritanian basin remains one of the most promising.
Total has planned to drill a well on Block C9 in 2019.