Total is involved in a variety of environment-related research programmes both at local and international level and concerning both terrestrial and marine milieus. Whatever the research themes, the results of these studies and R&D programmes are the fruit of cooperation between various partners and are intended to be shared and indeed widely circulated. Among recent R&D projects are :

The BioZaire Programme
This study, begun in 1999 in partnership with Ifremer (Institut Français de Recherches pour l'Exploitation de la Mer), covers a vast area off the coasts of Gabon and Angola, along the subsea channel carved by the river Zaire (hence the name of the programme). The aim of the research programme is to enhance our knowledge and understanding of the benthic ecosystems found in the deep offshore zone. The deep offshore, covering water depths between 400 and 4,000 metres, is characterised by extreme physico-chemical conditions (low temperature, high pressure and the absence of light preventing photo-synthesis). The first two oceanographic campaigns (BioZaire 1 and 2) provided a very satisfactory description of the local benthic fauna and its physico-chemical environment. At the same time, Total and Ifremer set up a new research programme to study the ability of benthic organisms to regain balanced conditions after disturbances to their ecosystem.  

Detritivore

Victor, Ifremer's underwater robot used in the BioZaïre research campaign on the deep offshore zone. © Ifremer

The BioZaire 3 campaign (end 2003-early 2004) complemented the previous campaigns via an additional trawl-sampling programme to study the megafauna as well as a study of the spatial distribution of benthic organisms compared to their trophic input.

Re-colonisation of the ocean floor
Total has carried out a specific study at the N’Kossa site (Congo), located in 180 m of water, to assess the impact of drill cuttings on the subsea milieu and to monitor changes in the situation in terms of both space and time. The study is based on sampling in the vicinity of the worksite, which involves two platforms and a production barge. The results recorded during the successive observation campaigns (in 1995, 2000, 2002 and 2003) revealed a significant reduction over time in the impact of production operations, due to re-colonisation by the species initially present.

The Proteus project
This initiative, officially launched in 2003 with the participation of the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and the WCMC (World Conservation Monitoring Centre), is aimed at developing an electronic Biodiversity Information System (BIS) providing both operational personnel and decision-makers with reliable and relevant information. The recently upgraded 2006-2008 implementation plan focuses among others on the development of a mapping tool of zones with particular biodiversity significance.