23-03-99 French Total and Shell have made a "very promising" discovery on Mississippi Canyon Block 942 in the Gulf of Mexico.
The block is located in deep waters about 100 km from the coast, south east of New Orleans and less than 16 km south of the Ursa production field. Total and Shell, the operator, each hold a 50 % interest in the block.
The MC942-1 discovery well is the first Total has taken part in deep waters off the U.S. coast.

The well was drilled to a depth of approximately 5,550 metres, in waters 1,200 metres deep and found two oil zones with a total thickness of about 60 metres.
Additional work, including seismic reprocessing, will be conducted to confirm the potential of the discovery, which Total said was "already considered highly encouraging."

In addition to the discovery, Total alongside Shell and Vastar was the highest bidder on Mississippi canyon Block 897, adjacent to Mississippi canyon Block 942 at the recent sale in New Orleans. The allocation is subject to final approval by U.S. authorities.