OREANDA-NEWS. Total announces the final investment decision for a first development phase of the Incahuasi gas and condensate field in

Bolivia, following the successful drilling results of the ICS-2 exploration well.

Located on the Ipati Block 250 kilometers South West of Santa Cruz in the Andean foothills, the development, operated by Total, will involve 3 wells (one on the

Aquio block and two on the Ipati block), a gas treatment plant with a capacity of 6.5 Mm3/d and associated export pipelines. First Gas, is expected in 2016, of which a large portion will be exported.

The ICS-2 well, drilled to a depth of 5,636 m, is the second successful exploration well on the Ipati Block. The results of two recent tests on this well proved a

hydrocarbon column of around 1,100 meters in the Devonian Huamampampa fractured sandstones reservoir.

“The very positive results of the last well drilled on the Incahuasi field enabled us to launch a first development phase to help meet growing gas demand in the

region,” said Ladislas Paszkiewicz, Total E&P Senior Vice President for the Americas. “We shall actively continue our exploration efforts in Bolivia to enable

additional developments”.

Total plans several more exploration and appraisal wells on the Ipati and Aquio blocks to prove the significant additional potential of the Incahuasi field. Total

also plans to commence exploration activities on the neighboring Azero block following the recent signature of an agreement with national energy company

YPFB and Gazprom.

Present in Bolivia since 1996, TEPBo operates the Aquio and Ipati blocks with a 60% participating interest, in association with Tecpetrol de Bolivia (20%) and Gazprom (20%, pending final administrative approvals).

TEPBo also owns a 15% participating interest in the San Alberto and San Antonio blocks which supply natural gas mainly to Brazil, as well as a 41% participating interest in the Itau field, put on stream in 2011 to supply gas to Argentina.