InterOil Corp. (NYSE: IOC) and Total E&P PNG Ltd. have agreed that Total will become operator of Petroleum Retention License (PRL) 15 in the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea effective Aug. 1, a news release said.

InterOil announced Feb. 27 that the PRL 15 Joint Venture, which is developing the Elk-Antelope gas discovery as the Papua LNG project, had unanimously appointed Total as the operator, subject to an agreed transition plan.

Under the agreement, InterOil will continue to provide certain technical services for Total until the end of 2015, the release said. InterOil will also continue to operate its remaining retention and exploration licenses in Papua New Guinea. The company, on behalf of Total, will drill the Antelope-4 sidetrack well, which is expected to begin drilling soon. Total will then operate the Antelope-6 well.