Total breaks new ground in Angola

LUANDA, Angola, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Authorities at French energy company Total inaugurated its giant Pazflor development off Angola's coast, which it said is characterized as an "elephant" field.

Top-ranking Total executives met in Angola to inaugurate the offshore field. Total estimates Pazflor to hold at least 590 million barrels of proven and probable reserves, classifying it as a so-called elephant field.

Total said it is pushing the boundaries of oil sector technology with the development. It will separate two grades of oil there and use the world's first subsea gas-liquid separation and pumping unit of the scale needed for Pazflor. A floating production storage offloading vessel associated with the offshore Angolan development can store up to 1.9 million barrels of oil, making it the world's largest FPSO.

"With this bold project, Total has pushed back the boundaries of technology," the company said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos met with executives from Italian energy Eni to discuss offshore work in the country.

"The parties will evaluate any new opportunities for joint initiatives for the further development of the hydrocarbon sector in the country," the Italian company said in a statement. Eni is producing around 130,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in Angola.