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France's Total Announces Myanmar and Indonesia Gas Finds
 
   LONDON (AP-Dow Jones)--French oil major Total SA Tuesday 
announced natural gas discoveries in Myanmar (formerly Burma) 
and Indonesia. 
   The Myanmar find was made during initial exploration drilling 
on the M5 and M6 offshore exploration blocks, part of the 
Moattama permit. 
   The discovery, named Sein, is located 10 kilometers from the 
Yadana field, gas from which will be sold told Thailand and for 
domestic power production. 
   Studies are underway to confirm the commerciality of Sein. 
The discovery well produced at 26 million cubic feet per day. 
   The partners on the M5 and M6 blocks are the same as for Yadana, 
being the operator Total (31.24%), Unocal (28.26%), the Petroleum 
Authority of Thailand (25.5%) and the Myanmar national oil company 
MOGE (15%). 
   In 1995, the group signed a deal to sell gas to Thailand for a 
30-year period, commencing in 1998. The initial export volume is set 
at 65 million cubic feet per day, building to 525 million cubic feet 
per day, plus 125 million cubic feet for local power production. 
   Moves to construct a pipeline from the beach, across Myanmar and 
into Thailand have been criticized by some human rights groups and 
trade union bodies which say forced labour is being used for the 
project and Unocal has faced protests in the U.S. 
   Meanwhile, Total has also disclosed that gas was found at a 
delineation well located outside the currently recognized limits of 
the Tunu field on the Total-operated Mahakam permit in Indonesia. The 
well produced at 21 million cubic feet of gas per day during tests. 
   Another well on the edge of the Sisi field on the Mahakam permit 
has tested at 26 million cubic feet per day. 
   (END) AP-DOW JONES NEWS 05-03-96
   1619GMT