Total to start drilling exploratory wells in Senegal and Mauritania
Paris — Shortly after launching a new project in Angola, French oil major Total said it was searching for more resources in Africa, including in Senegal and Mauritania. The company is historically strong in Africa and, buoyed by rising oil prices and improved terms for its multibillion dollar Kaombo contract in Angola, it is doubling down. Guy Maurice, Total’s head of exploration and production in Africa, said the company had completed seismic surveys and planned to start drilling exploratory wells in Senegal and Mauritania in West Africa. He did not give a specific timeframe, but a source familiar with the matter said the drilling would begin at the end of this year or in early 2019. Total has broken ranks with some of its rivals in recent years and largely ignored the rush to US shale. It is looking to eke out conventional oil and gas resources, seeking projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The strategy carries risks. It has left the company exposed to political inst...
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