Total's entry into Rufisque Offshore Profond comes after intense...

Total's entry into Rufisque Offshore Profond comes after intense political lobbying by the French major.

Revealed by Africa Energy Intelligence ( aEI 791), Total’s recent purchase of 70% of African Petroleum’s stake in the colossal Rufisque Offshore Profond permit was managed on a political level. France’s former Prime Minister Manuel Valls on visit to Dakar opportunely pointed out that “recent oil and gas discoveries” were an opportunity for French businesses, and Total above all. This same message was repeated behind closed doors to the Senegalese president Macky sall. At the time, Total was hoping to negotiate an entry into Senegalese blocks Saint Louis Offshore Profond and Cayar Offshore Profond, which form part of Senegal’s giant Tortue gasfield (seep.2). But the group was quickly ousted by Exxon and, most of all, BP. In midDecember, Total managed to get back into the game when Sall came to visit Paris. CEO of the French major, Patrick Pouyanne, met in private with the Senegalese head of state and spoke of several possible investments, including in particular an entry into Rufisque Offshore Profond, which lies adjacent to Sangomar Deep, where Cairn Energy has identified reserves of several hundred million barrels since 2014 (aEI 732).

The operator of Rufisque, junior African Petroleum founded by Frank Timis, should have drilled a first well in 2015 but, short on the funds needed to finance the work over an area lying at depths between 1,000 to 2,000m, the company has been pushing back deadlines for the past two years, helped out to no small measure by Timis’ close ties with the Senegalese presidency. As part of the agreement negotiated with African Petroleum, Total has committed to drill two wells for a total $70 million.