Total in the swim off WA
French giant Total has teamed up with US independent Apache to take stakes in two offshore permits in the Vulcan basin, off Australia's north-west coast, and has bagged 100% of a licence in the Browse basin, north of the Ichtys field.
Apache will operate permits AC/P 42 and AC/P 43 in the Vulcan basin with a 50% interest, while Total will hold the remaining 50%. The licences cover 1925 and 1465 square kilometres respectively and lie about 300 kilometres off the Western Australian coast, roughly 300 kilometres north-east of Ichthys. Water depths range from 15 to 550 metres.
License WA-408P, fully owned by Total, covers 1694 square kilometres and is 45 kilometres north of Ichthys, in water depths ranging from 300 to 400 metres.