Gazprom Needs Total's Help

Gazprom is likely to welcome France's Total to help it tap a large gas field in Astrakhan, the company said.

On Friday, Gazprom said it was considering teaming up with Total on the Astrakhan field -- one of its 10 biggest, with potential reserves of 2.5 trillion cubic meters.

Astrakhan's reserves have yet to be fully audited by DeGolyer, which rates them at 199.3 billion cubic meters of proven gas reserves and 48.3 bcm of probable reserves.

By the way, Total was the first foreign company which was invited to develop notorious Shtokman gas field.