TotalFinaElf announces a new oil discovery, Tombua, located on Block 14 offshore Angola, where it holds a 20 % interest, alongside Sonangol - Angola’s national oil company (20 %), Chevron (31 %), Agip (20%) and Petrogal (9 %).

The Tombua 1 well, drilled in 280 meters of water, tested at approximately 10,000 barrels per day of high-quality, 39°API oil, from two separate zones. This seventh discovery on Block 14 will be followed by geological and engineering studies to define its potential.

The six other oil discoveries on this block are : Kuito (1997), Landana (1998), Benguela (1998), Belize (1998), Tomboco (2000) and Lobito (2000). This new discovery extends the zone of success on Block 14 south of Lobito.

At Kuito, the first Block 14 discovery to be brought onstream in late 1999, work is currently underway to extend the development of the field. Elsewhere, preliminary engineering studies have been launched for the development of the Benguela-Belize-Tomboco complex of fields.

TotalFinaElf is also present in the Angolan deep offshore with a 40% interest in Block 17, which it operates. Development of the block’s Girassol structure is continuing and the field will be brought onstream at the end of this year.

The Group also has interests onshore Angola in the Soyo region; in the conventional offshore Blocks 0 (10%), 2 (27.5%) and 3 (operator, 50%); and in the deep offshore exploration Blocks 19 (operator, 30%), 31 (5%), 32 (operator, 30%) and 33 (15%).