OREANDA-NEWS. Total announces that its wholly owned subsidiary Total E&P Norge AS has signed an agreement to sell an 8% interest in the Gina Krog field in Norway, together with its interests in the mature fields of Vilje (24.243%), Vale (24.243%) and Morvin (6%), to PGNiG Upstream International.

The consideration for the transaction is USD 317 million, with an effective date of January 1, 2014. The transaction is subject to the approval of the Norwegian authorities. Gina Krog is a field under development in the North Sea, sanctioned in 2013, with an expected production start-up early 2017. The project will produce 60,000 barrels of oil per day and 9 million cubic meters of gas per day at plateau. Following the sale, Total E&P Norge AS will retain a 30% interest in the Gina Krog field alongside Statoil (58.7%) and Det Norske (3.3%).

"This sale is in line with Total's strategy of active portfolio management", commented Patrice de ViviЁЁs, Senior Vice President Northern Europe, Exploration & Production. "With the Ekofisk South, Eldfisk II, Martin Linge and Gina Krog developments, Total's production in Norway is set to grow between 2014 and 2017".

Total Exploration & Production in Norway Total has been present in Norway for nearly 50 years and has played a major role in the development of a number of large fields on the Norwegian continental shelf. Total holds interests in more than 100 production licenses, 30 of which it operates. The affiliate Total E&P Norge AS is one of the largest contributors to the Group's equity production and produced 243,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2013. In 2012, the development plan for Martin Linge field (Total E&P Norge AS 51%, operator), a stand-alone oil and gas field development in the North Sea, was approved by the Norwegian Parliament. Over the past several years Total E&P Norge AS has grown its exploration portfolio and made or participated in several discoveries.