Sultanate explores cooperation with Total

22/09/2014 08:35 AST

MUSCAT — Officials from Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas (MOG), along with representatives from Petroleum Development Oman (PDO), paid a two-day fact-finding visit to oil giant Total’s world leading Scientific and Technical Centerat Pau in South West France.

The Ministry, PDO and Total share a common objective of employing the most innovative and cost-effective technologies to maximise hydrocarbon recovery from their fields, whilst always maintaining the highest standards of safety and environmental performance, the French-headquartered global operator said in a press statement.

During the visit to the state-of-the-art research facility, the visiting party was given insights into Total’s comprehensive range of Enhanced Oil Recovery facilities and activities (laboratories and pilots), covering subsurface to surface.

The visit could pave the way towards possible future collaboration between the Ministry of Oil and Gas, PDO and Total, who are already joint-venture partners on projects in Oman. Total has been present in Oman since 1937 as a shareholder in the Iraq Petroleum Company. Total E&P Oman owns 4 per cent of the PDO joint-venture along with the Sultanate of Oman Government (60 per cent), Shell (34 per cent), and Partex (2 per cent).

The Group also has interests in Block 53 (the Mukhaizna heavy oilfields), as well as Oman LNG complex. In December 2013, Total has also signed a contract for exploration and production of the Block 41, located offshore the Sultanate of Oman.

Oman Daily Observer