Total SA and Oman’s Ministry of Oil and Gas have signed a heads of agreement for award to the French company of an exploration license covering Block 12 in Central Oman.

Total will hold a 100% interest in the 10,000-sq-km block. It’s south of Blocks 10 and 11, which Total has agreed to develop in an integrated gas project that includes construction and operation of a liquefaction plant and LNG bunkering.

The Block 12 program will include seismic data acquisition and drilling commitments, with the first well due in 2020, Total said.