The Spanish state oil player is nearing itstarget at a high-risk well in Mauritania but has also set its sights on a Spanishplay with multi-billion-barrel potential, while also changing its explorationtack in Norway, where it suffered a series of dusters last year.

Speaking to analysts at a presentation inLondon on Wednesday, exploration managing director Marcos Mozetic said theexploration budget for the year has increased from $1.19