Total and the Republic of Senegal signed two agreements enabling Total to contribute to exploration activities in Senegal’s deepwater and ultra-deepwater offshore work, Total said May 2.

Patrick Pouyanne, chairman and CEO of Total, said this is part of company strategy to explore new deepwater basins offshore Africa and expand its presence in Senegal. The first agreement involves an exploration and production-sharing contract for the 10,357 sq km Rufisque Offshore Profond Block. Total will be the operator with a 90% interest. Societe Nationale des Petroles du Senegal (Petrosen) will hold the remaining 10%.

Total, which has worked in Senegal since 1947 as a petroleum products refiner and marketer, also signed a cooperation agreement with Petrosen and Senegal’s Ministry of Energy and Renewable Energy Development, under which Total will assess the exploration potential of Senegal’s ultra-deepwater offshore, and become operator of a block.

Offshore