Total has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Total E&P USA, has acquired 13 blocks in the central Gulf of Mexico, having been the highest bidder in the lease sale 206.
Situated in deep waters (1,500m to 2,000m) and close to Total’s wholly owned blocks in this area, each of the 13 lease sale blocks is of an area of approximately 25sqkm. The lease period for these exploration blocks is 10 years.
Total E&P USA will operate and wholly own 12 blocks in the Garden Banks and Keathley Canyon areas. Total will own 50% of the 13th block in partnership with Cobalt International Energy.
The award of these blocks is subject to final approval by the Minerals Management Service.
Total has also recently acquired a 50% working interest from Cobalt in eight deep offshore blocks located in the Garden Banks area close to Total’s blocks in the same area. Cobalt, the operator, acquired these blocks in 2006, for a lease term of 10 years.