"Total has proven reserves in Nigeria's deepwater offshore of 3.4 billion barrels of oil equivalent since discoveries in 2000 and it is the fourth largest oil company in Nigeria," Musa said on the sidelines of an industry conference in Abuja.

Yves Louis Darricarrere, head of Total's exploration and production division, met with Nigeria's acting president Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday.

Darricarrere, commending Nigeria for the government's amnesty program, said Total would take advantage of the relative peace in the region to increase its investments in the oil and gas sector, according to an AFP report.

Militants were granted amnesty by President Umaru Yar'Adua in exchange for laying down their arms and agreeing to rehabilitation.

Of the 10 deep offshore discoveries in Nigeria, Total is operator in three and partner in another three. It also has a 17% stake in the $3 billion planned Brass LNG project in Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta and holds a share in the Nigeria LNG plant on Bonny Island.

--Staff, newsdesk@platts.com