Mechanical failure halts Total drilling

Cape Town - French energy major Total has temporarily stopped its oil exploration 175km off the southern coast of South Africa after the rig experienced mechanical failure, a company official said on Tuesday.

“Offshore repair was not possible,” Guy Maurice, the company's senior vice-president for exploration and production in Africa, told delegates at an oil and gas conference organised by Global Pacific & Partners.

Total is the operator of Block 11B/12B, where it holds a 50% stake in the field with equal partner CNR International, a subsidiary of Canadian Natural Resources.

Maurice said the rig was operating in difficult conditions at water depths of around 1 500 meters, and where strong winds and ocean currents were a challenge.

"The way forward is very clear. We will continue to work on it, to prepare the campaign and to re-enter the well because the operational objective is unchanged," he said, without indicating when drilling would resume.