Total announces that its Nigerian operating subsidiary, Elf Petroleum Nigeria  Ltd.  (EPNL),  has encountered hydrocarbons in the area west of the Usan field discovery in deepwater Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 222, offshore south-eastern Nigeria.

The Usan 6 appraisal well was drilled at around 110 kilometres offshore and 4 kilometres south of the Usan-5 well in water depths of approximately 850 metres. It is the fifth successful appraisal well on the Usan field discovered in 2002.

During the well test, Usan 6 was flowed at a rate of 5,800 barrels of oil per day under restricted flow conditions. The well confirms the high potential of the Usan structure on an extension of the accumulation west of Usan 1 to 4 wells and south of Usan 5.

Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. (NNPC) is concessionaire for OPL 222 under a production sharing contract operated by Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. (20%), in partnership with Chevron Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. (30%), Esso Exploration  and  Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Ltd. (30%) and Nexen Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. (20%).