Total announces a significant new gas condensate discovery in block 205/5a in approximately 610 metres of water, some 100 kilometres North West of the Sullom Voe Terminal on the Shetland Islands. Total, with a 47.5% interest, is the operator of this block awarded end 2004, alongside partners Eni UK Limited (22.5%), DONG E&P (UK) Limited (20.0%) and Chevron North Sea Limited (10.0%).

The Tormore discovery well 205/5a-1 was drilled to a total depth of 3936 metres and tested at 32 million cubic feet per day of gas with a condensate gas ratio of 75 barrels per million cubic foot.

This discovery lies 15 kilometres south west of the Total-operated Laggan discovery, which was successfully appraised in 2004.
 
“The reserves related to this discovery will be evaluated over the coming months and strengthen the gas potential of the area near the Lagan discovery in the West of Shetlands. This success illustrates Total’s commitment to contribute to the development of United Kingdom’s oil and gas resources”, declares Yves-Louis Darricarrère, Total’s President Exploration and Production.

Recent discoveries lifted the Group’s proved and probable reserves in the UK to over 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent end of 2006.

Total in the United Kingdom

Total E&P UK Limited is one of the leading oil and gas producers on the UK Continental Shelf, with equity production of 280,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2006. Based in Aberdeen, Scotland, the company owns and operates a cluster of fields in the Alwyn Area of the northern North Sea, the Elgin and Franklin fields in the Central North Sea and the Otter field northeast of Shetland. The Company also operates the St. Fergus gas terminal and a gas transportation system, and has interests in a number of non-operated fields.