TotalFinaElf announces the start-up of production of the Aconcagua natural gas field, 50% owned and operated by its wholly owned subsidiary TotalFinaElf E&P USA, in deepwater Gulf of Mexico.

Located in the Mississippi Canyon area, Aconcagua is one of three natural gas fields pooled together to use the Canyon Express gas gathering system operated by TotalFinaElf.

This system, 92 kilometres long, links the Aconcagua, Camden Hill (TotalFinaElf, 16.7%) and King's Peak gas production to the Canyon Station platform operated by Williams Field Services in Main Pass 261.

At a water depth of 2,198 meters, the project marks a world record in deepwater production. Its completion necessitated the development of advanced subsea technologies, including subsea multiphase meters to determine production from each individual well.

Initial production from one well at Aconcagua and one at King's Peak will be progressively increased over the next two months as remaining wells from the three fields are connected to the system, reaching a production plateau of 500 million cubic feet of gas per day, with approximately 20,000 barrels of oil equivalent for TotalFinaElf.

Canyon Express is an integral part of TotalFinaElf's deepwater development strategy. The Group's partners in the project are Marathon Oil Company, BP, Pioneer Natural Resources and Nippon Oil Exploration.