TotalFinaElf today announced that its Nigerian operating subsidiary, Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd (EPNL), has made a significant new oil discovery in deepwater Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 222, which it operates offshore Nigeria under a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) signed with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in 1993.

The Usan-1 exploration well, located approximately 100 kilometres offshore in 750 metres of water, was drilled to a total depth of 2,725 metres. During tests, the well flowed at a rate of 5,000 barrels of 34° API oil per day. Usan-1 is the second oil discovery on the 1,800 km2 license, following the Ukot-1 discovery, which was drilled in 1998, roughly 10 kilometres to the south.

EPNL holds a 20% interest in block OPL 222, in partnership with Chevron Petroleum Nigeria Ltd, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria and Nexen Inc.

This new discovery represents a milestone for TotalFinaElf, whose strategy is to strengthen its position in the deepwater Gulf of Guinea.