May 7, 2013 - Appraisal well 16/2-21 has been spud by the Bredford Dolphin (mid-water semisub) in the Johan Sverdrup discovery on the Norwegian continental shelf. The central part of the discovery is being tested in an effort to establish the depth, quality and thickness of the Jurassic reservoir sequences. Information obtained from this well will aid in developing a drainage and development strategy which is expected to be announced at the end of the year. Well 16/2-21 is the first in a three-well appraisal campaign that will be carried out through 2013.

May 1, 2013 - Appraisal well 7225/3-2 is underway on Total's Norvarg discovery in PL535 in the Barents Sea off Norway. The Leiv Eiriksson (UDW semisub) is drilling the well in 1,236-feet of water and is expected to reach total depth in around three months. With this appraisal, Total hopes to prove up volume potential in the northeastern segment of the Norvarg closure. Current resource estimates for Norvarg indicate 200 MMboe. Total serves as operator of the license with 40 percent interest. Its partners are North Energy (20%), Det norske (20%), Ithaca 13% and Rocksource (7%).