Total announces that it has been awarded three exploration licences in the 25th Oil and Gas Licensing Round of the UK’s Department of Energy and Climate Change. In the West of Shetlands area, Total and its partners in the Laggan and Tormore gas condensate discoveries, have been awarded part of the adjacent Block 205/4.
Further north, Total will have a 56% interest in the exploration licence formed by Blocks 214/17, 214/21b and 214/22.
In addition, in the Central Graben area of the North Sea, Total will have 75% equity in Block 29/3b where it has a firm well commitment to drill the high temperature-high pressure Corfe Prospect.
The award of these three licences is in line with Total's strategy of acquiring new acreage around its two main UK North Sea production hubs (Elgin-Franklin and Alwyn) and developing its position in the West of Shetlands area around its Laggan and Tormore discoveries. Total hence reaffirms its commitment to actively pursuing exploration, and contributing to the development of the North Sea's oil and gas resources.