France

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Mar. 31 – France officially awarded the 4,327-sq-km Montelimar permit in southern France between south of Valence to Montpellier to Total SA.

Total plans to confirm the presence of shale gas on the permit and then move toward its development. It will drill exploratory wells if geological studies prove promising.

Initial award of the permit was to Total and a subsidiary of Devon Energy Corp., Oklahoma City. Devon decided in late 2009 to focus on North America, and Total has acquired Devon’s French affiliate, subject to ministerial approval.