On 13 August 2019, Total spudded the Richat 1 new field wildcat well in block C-9, deep waters of the MSGBC Basin, central offshore Mauritania. The well is located in the central part of the block in around 2,500 m of water. Operations were finished on 27 September 2019. No results were released. Industry sources suggest that the well did not encounter significant hydrocarbons and that it was plugged and abandoned. It was reported that the Richat structure was related to salt diapirism and that this process possibly also caused a breach of seal.  In mid-July 2019 it was reported that Total exercised its option to use the âPacific Santa Anaâ drillship to drill a well in block C-9. The company was to drill the Richat prospect.  In early March 2019 industry sources suggested that Total will drill its well in block C-9, deep waters of the MSGBC Basin, central offshore Mauritania with the âPacific Santa Anaâ drillship. The well will be drilled around mid-2019 once the rig comes up from Senegal where it starts work for Total in April. It is not yet known which prospect Total will drill in block C-9. At this stage, the rig slot is an option and probably depends on Total finding a partner to share the drilling risk.  In late March 2018 it appeared that Total was planning an exploration well in block C-9. The company was looking for a rig to start drilling in the fourth quarter of 2018. In addition to one firm well, there were to be options for two additional wells.  Block C-9 was awarded to Total in 2012, it covers 10,250 sq km and is undrilled. The company completed two 3D seismic surveys over the acreage, one in 2013 and the other in 2017. Total targets Upper Cretaceous turbidite sand channels on the continental slope / basin floor which have been prolific for Kosmos further south with the Tortue, Teranga Marsouin and Yakaar discoveries in Mauritania and Senegal. Recent drilling closer to C-9 also by Kosmos was unsuccessful with the Hippocampe and Lamantin wells in the C-8 and C-12 blocks, respectively, coming up dry. The sands which Total targets in C-9 are related to the Nouakchott river system while the sands containing Tortue and Yakaar/Teranga are related to the Senegal river system.  Since it took operatorship of the C-18 block in 2017, Total increased its footprint in the M.S.G.B.C. basin in general and in Mauritania in particular. The company operates now five deep water blocks in the country: C-7, C-9, C-15, C-18 and C-31. The C-18 acquisition joins C-9 and C-7 to constitute a large continuous acreage position totaling over 30,000 sq km.     Participants in block C-9 are: Total, operator with 90% and SMHPM with 10%.
TOTAL SA finished Richat 1 well in in block C-9, No results were released. Industry sources suggest that the well did not encounter significant hydrocarbons and that it was plugged and abandoned. It was reported that the Richat structure was related to salt diapirism and that this process possibly also caused a breach of seal.