TotalFinaElf has announced a promising discovery on Oil Prospecting Licence 246 (OPL 246) in Nigeria deep offshore. Located in the Niger delta at about 130 kilometers from the shores, OPL 246 is operated by TotalFinaElf with a 24% interest, alongside South Atlantic Petroleum (60%) and Braspetro (16%).

Drilled at a water depth of 1,375 meters, the AKPO-1 well is the first well drilled on OPL 246. Production tests carried out on the AKPO-1 well showed daily flow rates of 9,000 barrels per day (bopd) of light oil. Further geological and engineering studies will be necessary in order to appraise this discovery in its entirety.

TotalFinaElf is the operator of the NNPC/TotalFinaElf joint venture which is the fourth oil and gas producer in Nigeria with a daily production of 140,000 barrels of oil and 6 million cubic meters of gas. TotalFinaElf has already made two discoveries in Nigeria deep waters, Ukot (OPL 222) as operator, and Bonga (OPL 212) as partner.

This new success in Nigeria confirms the Exploration & Production strategy of TotalFinaElf in West Africa based on developing and strengthening its positions in the Gulf of Guinea’s deep offshore where the Group has recently made significant discoveries.