Total sticks to its guns on exploration and transition
The French oil and gas major refuses to be eclipsed by shale
Total's decision to launch its boldest exploration strategy in five years, in 2019, contrasts sharply with moves by other majors to largely prioritise US shale acreage over frontier markets. The French firm aims to drill treble the number of offshore and onshore wells drilled in the last two years, at 23 in 2019, even as the promise of more easily controllable costs and high productivity leads the likes of Chevron and ExxonMobil to ramp up Permian Basin activities. The exploration strategy sits well within an outward-looking tradition driven by France's comparative lack of domestic hydrocarbon resources. Since its inception in 1924 as the French Petroleum Company, Total has grown to operate
Also in this section
1 April 2025
There is method to the US president’s apparent madness, and those seeking to understand need look no further than their local bookshop
1 April 2025
Strong economic growth targets are encouraging for the country’s energy demand growth, even if meeting those goals might be a tall order
28 March 2025
The Central Asian country is positioning itself as a low-carbon leader, but antiquated infrastructure and a dependence on Russia are holding it back
28 March 2025
MCEDD 2025 took place in Madrid this week with record attendance and a wide-ranging programme, reflecting the deepwater sector’s renewed momentum, strategic focus and accelerating technological innovation.
