Total operates five blocks in the Foz do Amazonas basin (referenced as FZA-M-57, FZA-M-86, FZA-M-88, FZA-M-125 and FZA-M-127) located around 120 km offshore Brazil. 

During its current expedition in the North of Brazil with the vessel Esperanza, the NGO Greenpeace went to the border limits of block FZA-M-86 (see map). The NGO states it has found rhodolith beds within the area that it surveyed at a water depth of around 180m. 

Total confirms that no biogenic formation was identified in Block FZA-M-57. The planned exploration well in Block FZA-M-57 (ca1800m water depth) will be 28 km away from the rodholith beds previously identified and 34 km away from the location where the NGO would have found rhodoliths more recently.

Total reaffirms that it operates in stringent compliance with the applicable legislation and applies E&P industry best practices in safety, well design, drilling and environmental protection.