Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent
PARIS, Jan. 7 -- Total SA's Argentine arm Total Austral SA, Buenos Aires, plans to spend $100 million this year to develop Aguanda Pichana gas field in Argentina's Neuquen province.
It will drill 20 wells and connect them with a gas processing plant it owns nearby. Total Austral is operator, in association with Wintershall AG, Repsol YPF SA, and Pan American Energy LLC�a company held jointly by BP 60% and Buenos Aires-based Bridas Corp. 40%. The gas processing plant also receives gas from neighboring San Roque field in which Total Austral is also operator with the same partners.
In May, Total Austral will bring on stream in southern Argentina, off Tierra del Fuego, Carina and Aries gas fields at a combined starting rate of 7 million cu m/day to be increased subsequently to 16 million cu m. Total cost of this development will be $400 million. Total Austral is operator in association with Wintershall and Pan American Energy.
Total Austral's oil and gas production in Argentina last year amounted to 235,000 boe, 85% of which was gas. The company expects 250,000 boe in 2005.
