China's CNOOC Ltd ( CEO , Analyst Report ) and France based Total SA ( TOT , Analyst Report ) have recently submitted their development plans for three Ugandan oil blocks to the Ugandan government. The decision of the government is expected before the end of this month, as per Dow Jones Newswires. More than 1 billion barrels of oil have been discovered in these blocks. 
Share:  China's CNOOC Ltd ( CEO , Analyst Report ) and France based <span class="company">Total SA</span> ( TOT , Analyst Report ) have recently submitted their development plans for three Ugandan oil blocks to the Ugandan government. The decision of the government is expected before the end of this month, as per Dow Jones Newswires. More than 1 billion barrels of oil have been discovered in these blocks. Tweet this 

Oil drilling equipment maker FMC Technologies Inc ( ) announced the receipt of a $65 million contract from French oil major Total SA ( ). The deal calls for FMC Technologies to design and provide subsea production systems to Total operated Block 17 development, located offshore Angola. FMC Technologies said that the contract includes the manufacture of subsea trees, controls and associated equipment. 
Share:  Oil drilling equipment maker FMC Technologies Inc ( ) announced the receipt of a $65 million contract from French oil major <span class="company">Total SA</span> ( ). The deal calls for FMC Technologies to design and provide subsea production systems to Total operated Block 17 development, located offshore Angola. FMC Technologies said that the contract includes the manufacture of subsea trees, controls and associated equipment. Tweet this 

The Wall Street Journal Claire Rangel reported that Total said, "it had concluded talks with trade unions at its French refineries that could lead to the end of the strike that began over a week ago The French oil major pledged to preserve refining operations in France for five years 
Share:  <span class="sent">The Wall Street Journal Claire Rangel reported that <span class="company">Total</span> said, "it had concluded talks with trade unions at its French refineries that could lead to the end of the strike that began over a week ago</span> The French oil major pledged to preserve refining operations in France for five years Tweet this 

"Crude was lifted 04% yesterday in its fifth straight session of gains as refinery workers at French major Total SA continued their sixth day of striking amidst labor concerns," said analysts in the Houston office of Raymond James & Associates Inc "Crude was also propped up by news that Iran may begin construction this year on 2 of 10 potential nuclear enrichment plants" 
Share:  <span class="sent">"Crude was lifted 04% yesterday in its fifth straight session of gains as refinery workers at French major <span class="company">Total SA</span> continued their sixth day of striking amidst labor concerns," said analysts in the Houston office of <span class="analyst">Raymond James</span> & Associates Inc "Crude was also propped up by news that Iran may begin construction this year on 2 of 10 potential nuclear enrichment plants"</span> Tweet this 

Oil fluctuated near $80 a barrel as strikes at Total SA refineries and depots in France supported prices of refined products such as gasoline and the dollar strengthened against the euro. Oil rose to a five week high after gasoline futures gained as much as 2 percent amid union calls on Total workers to extend walkouts The dollar's advance makes oil and other commodities less attractive as an alternative investment 
Share:  <span class="sent">Oil fluctuated near $80 a barrel as strikes at <span class="company">Total SA</span> refineries and depots in France supported prices of refined products such as gasoline and the dollar strengthened against the euro. </span> Oil rose to a five week high after gasoline futures gained as much as 2 percent amid union calls on Total workers to extend walkouts The dollar's advance makes oil and other commodities less attractive as an alternative investment Tweet this 

In New Orleans, analysts at Pritchard Capital Partners LLC said, "If the Total strike persists throughout this week reducing French gasoline outputs, it could limit US gasoline imports" 
Share:  <span class="sent">In New Orleans, analysts at <span class="analyst">Pritchard Capital Partners LLC</span> said, "If the <span class="company">Total</span> strike persists throughout this week reducing French gasoline outputs, it could limit US gasoline imports"</span> Tweet this 

French oil major Total's TOT fourth quarter results revealed another quarter that was lower than year ago earnings but higher on a sequential basis, as upstream gains were enough to offset weaker downstream and chemical results. Adjusted fourth quarter earnings of EUR 21 billion were 28% below year ago earnings of EUR 29 billion on 2% lower upstream earnings and a marked 93% decrease in downstream and 59% decrease in chemical unit earnings On a sequential basis, upstream gains were enough to offset still weakening downstream and chemicals results to drive a 11% earnings gain over the third quarter 
Share:  <span class="sent">French oil major <span class="company">Total</span>'s TOT fourth quarter results revealed another quarter that was lower than year ago earnings but higher on a sequential basis, as upstream gains were enough to offset weaker downstream and chemical results. </span> Adjusted fourth quarter earnings of EUR 21 billion were 28% below year ago earnings of EUR 29 billion on 2% lower upstream earnings and a marked 93% decrease in downstream and 59% decrease in chemical unit earnings On a sequential basis, upstream gains were enough to offset still weakening downstream and chemicals results to drive a 11% earnings gain over the third quarter Tweet this 

The energy firm said it expects to increase production in 2010 thanks to the ramp up of projects started in 2009, though it didn't give specific guidance Shares of Total gained 21% in afternoon trading on Euronext in Paris They have risen 4% over the past 12 months Total's fourth quarter results "were solid but rather as expected, and the initial commentary around [the] 2010 outlook is hardly likely to excite in our view," said David Thomas, an analyst at Citigroup, in a note to clients He reiterated his hold rating on the stock, citing limited positive catalysts 
Share:  The energy firm said it expects to increase production in 2010 thanks to the ramp up of projects started in 2009, though it didn't give specific guidance Shares of <span class="company">Total</span> gained 21% in afternoon trading on Euronext in Paris They have risen 4% over the past 12 months<span class="sent"> <span class="company">Total</span>'s fourth quarter results "were solid but rather as expected, and the initial commentary around [the] 2010 outlook is hardly likely to excite in our view," said <span class="analyst">David Thomas</span>, an analyst at Citigroup, in a note to clients</span> He reiterated his hold rating on the stock, citing limited positive catalysts...The energy firm said it expects to increase production in 2010 thanks to the ramp up of projects started in 2009, though it didn't give specific guidance Shares of <span class="company">Total</span> gained 21% in afternoon trading on Euronext in Paris They have risen 4% over the past 12 months<span class="sent"> <span class="company">Total</span>'s fourth quarter results "were solid but rather as expected, and the initial commentary around [the] 2010 outlook is hardly likely to excite in our view," said <span class="analyst">David Thomas</span>, an analyst at Citigroup, in a note to clients</span> He reiterated his hold rating on the stock, citing limited positive catalysts Tweet this 

100 percent represents the level at which production is matched with new reserves additions Total's RRR was 103 percent but without the acquisition of reserves, it would have been 93 percent "Organic reserves replacement of 93 percent may be seen as a small disappointment," Citigroup oil analyst David Thomas said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For a graphic comparing Total's profits with oil prices, click here ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (Additional reporting and writing by Tom Bergin ; Editing by Erica Billingham, John Stonestreet) 
Share:  100 percent represents the level at which production is matched with new reserves additions <span class="company">Total</span>'s RRR was 103 percent but without the acquisition of reserves, it would have been 93 percent<span class="sent"> "Organic reserves replacement of 93 percent may be seen as a small disappointment," Citigroup oil analyst <span class="analyst">David Thomas</span> said</span> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For a graphic comparing <span class="company">Total</span>'s profits with oil prices, click here ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (Additional reporting and writing by Tom Bergin ; Editing by Erica Billingham, John Stonestreet)...100 percent represents the level at which production is matched with new reserves additions <span class="company">Total</span>'s RRR was 103 percent but without the acquisition of reserves, it would have been 93 percent<span class="sent"> "Organic reserves replacement of 93 percent may be seen as a small disappointment," Citigroup oil analyst <span class="analyst">David Thomas</span> said</span> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For a graphic comparing <span class="company">Total</span>'s profits with oil prices, click here ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ (Additional reporting and writing by Tom Bergin ; Editing by Erica Billingham, John Stonestreet) Tweet this 

The refining slump was offset by higher production combined with average selling prices for oil, which rose 43 percent in the quarter compared to a year earlier Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie called Total's performance "among the most resilient of the major oils" Like rivals BP PLC and Royal Dutch Shell, Total's business of exploring for and producing oil benefited from an increase in crude prices at the end of 2009 But weak demand for gasoline, heating oil and other products severely depressed profits at the company's refineries "The earnings were more or less in line with expectations, just a bit above consensus," said Aymeric de Villaret, an oil sector analyst at investment bank Societe Generale in Paris 
Share:  The refining slump was offset by higher production combined with average selling prices for oil, which rose 43 percent in the quarter compared to a year earlier Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie called <span class="company">Total</span>'s performance "among the most resilient of the major oils" Like rivals BP PLC and Royal Dutch Shell, <span class="company">Total</span>'s business of exploring for and producing oil benefited from an increase in crude prices at the end of 2009 But weak demand for gasoline, heating oil and other products severely depressed profits at the company's refineries<span class="sent"> "The earnings were more or less in line with expectations, just a bit above consensus," said <span class="analyst">Aymeric de Villaret</span>, an oil sector analyst at investment bank Societe Generale in Paris</span>...Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie called <span class="company">Total</span>'s performance "among the most resilient of the major oils" Like rivals BP PLC and Royal Dutch Shell, <span class="company">Total</span>'s business of exploring for and producing oil benefited from an increase in crude prices at the end of 2009 But weak demand for gasoline, heating oil and other products severely depressed profits at the company's refineries<span class="sent"> "The earnings were more or less in line with expectations, just a bit above consensus," said <span class="analyst">Aymeric de Villaret</span>, an oil sector analyst at investment bank Societe Generale in Paris</span> "It has held up bett Tweet this