Total SA has deployed a rig to South Africa to look for more oil near a massive discovery, in a rare example of exploration in a frontier area.<\/p>\n
The Odfjell Deepsea Stavanger has left Bergen in Norway for the southern tip of Africa, Africa Energy Corp., Total\u2019s partner in the project, said Thursday.<\/p>\n
While drilling work has dropped off dramatically everywhere, with rigs in Africa falling by a\u00a0record<\/a>\u00a0in May amid the oil-price collapse, the existing discovery gives the companies\u00a0hope<\/span>\u00a0there\u2019s more oil to be found in the area.<\/p>\n Total, which operates Block 11B\/12B with a 45% stake, made the estimated 1 billion barrel\u00a0Brulpadda find\u00a0<\/a>in February 2019.<\/p>\n The deposit of primarily gas-condensate – a light liquid hydrocarbon — was drilled about 175 kilometers (109 miles) off South Africa\u2019s southern coast.<\/p>\n Africa Energy holds a 49% stake in\u00a0Main Street<\/span>\u00a01549 Proprietary Ltd., which has a 10% interest in the block.<\/p>\n The partners are planning to drill a well in the Luiperd prospect in water depths of as much as 1.8 kilometers by September, Africa Energy Chief Executive Officer Garrett Soden said in a statement.<\/p>\n The prospects in the area have improved following the nearby Brulpadda discovery and other seismic work, he said.<\/p>\n Total didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n
\n