Total has made a “significant” gas condensate discovery with a well-drilled frontier in the Brulpadda prospect in South Africa, which is expected to open up a new offshore market.
Total has discovered in the Bruldpadda-1AX asset, a liquid condensate of gas in Lower Cretaceous reservoirs after being drilled by the Deepsea Stavanger semi-submersible in Block 11B/12B in the Outeniqua basin, 175 kilometers off the country's southern coast, Total reported. in a statement. She stated that the well was also successful in a deeper perspective after final depths of 3633 meters by the Odfjell Drilling rig, having achieved its main objective.
“With this discovery, Total has opened up a new game of world-class oil and gas and is well positioned to test multiple prospects for continuation on the same block,” said Total's Senior Vice President of Exploration Kevin McLachlan.
The high profile rig, drilled in challenging meticulous conditions with high waves and currents at a depth of 1432 meters, opened the so-called Paddavissie play.
No At the end of December, the re-entry of a rig that was operating there in 2014, which had to be abandoned due to environmental challenges, and targeted gross prospective resources of more than 500 million barrels of oil.
While the prospect was expected to be oil, any gas discovered could be supplied to PetroSA's Mossel Bay gas-to-liquids plant, which is running low on feedstock as nearby offshore gas fields are depleted.
It could be a game-changing discovery for the country, which relies heavily on coal to help meet its energy needs and is considering new gas imports.
The French operator and its partners are now planning four more exploration wells on the same block, following the planned acquisition of 3D seismic later this year.
Brulpadda is one of five Aptian-Albian fan prospects with direct hydrocarbon indicators, the others being Platanna, Woudboom, Luiperd and Blaasop.
Total holds a stake of 45% in the 19.000 square kilometer block, with partners Qatar Petroleum (25%), Canadian Natural Resources (20%) and South African consortium Main Street (10%).
Total, which has been active in South Africa since 1954, also has an operating stake in the South Outeniqua block located in the same basin.
Meanwhile, the company posted a 10% increase in fourth-quarter net income to $3,2 billion, compared to $2,9 billion a year earlier, while the full-year figure was up 28% to $13,6 billion. $XNUMX billion.
The company benefited from higher average oil prices of $71 per barrel last year and 8% in annual hydrocarbon production, reaching a record 2,8 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, in addition to continued of financial discipline, after additional cuts of $4,2 billion. executive chef Patrick Pouyanne.
Total has seen the start of several major projects in the past year, including Icthys off Australia, Yamal LNG in Russia and the Kaombo North off Angola and Engina off Nigeria deepwater systems.
