TRIPOLI, Libya, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- French supermajror Total announced plans to drill two exploration wells in the al-Jurf field in Libya as early as next year.
Libyan oil production was shuttered by last year's civil war. Pre-war production was around 1.6 million barrels per day.
Jean Daniel Blasco, vice president for exploration and production in North Africa, said his company was keen on further development in the country. The al-Jurf and Mabruk fields, he said, were already back in service and producing at pre-war levels.
"In Libya, we are already participating in production from al-Jurf field, located offshore Tripoli," he was quoted by the Tripoli Post as saying. "Two exploration wells are planned in 2013 for this area."
Total said production was suspended briefly in early March 2011 because of the civil war in Libya.
The U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administration in July reported that Libyan oil production by December 2011 had rebounded to 800,000 bpd. The report said that by April 2012, Libya oil production was at 1.4 million bpd.
Libyan oil production peaked in 1973 at 2.2 million bpd before settling at 1.6 bpd by 2009.
