Total SA: Petroleum a la Francais

Total Statoil completes Cocuina-2X drilling off Venezuela, confirms dry gas


OSLO (AFX) - Statoil ASA said it has completed the drilling of Cocuina-2X,
as part of a three-well exploration campaign in block 4 of Plataforma Deltana,
off eastern Venezuela.
The well, located 240 km from the Orinoco Delta, was drilled to a total
depth of 3,406 metres.
A total of three intervals were tested in which dry gas was confirmed. Dry
gas is free of liquid hydrocarbons and suitable for pipeline shipping.
The true potential of block 4 cannot be confirmed until the whole
exploration programme has been completed.
Plataforma Deltana Block 4 is a licence awarded to Statoil by the Venezuelan
government in 2003.
Statoil is the operator of the licence, with a 51 pct share. Total holds 49
pct.
michael.delaine@afxnews.com
mdl/ic