CAIRO  - Oman has signed an exploration and production sharing agreement with France's Total and Thailand's PTTEP to explore and develop non-associated gas in Block 12, Oman's ministry of oil and gas said in a tweet on Wednesday.

Total E&P is the operator of the 9,546 square kilometre block located in central Oman, and holds 80% participating interest in the joint venture, while PTTEP has the remainder, the ministry said.

Under the agreement, the companies will carry out seismic surveys and geological and geophysical studies, and drill exploratory wells.

(Reporting by Omar Fahmy, writing by Nafisa Eltahir, editing by Susan Fenton) ((Nafisa.Eltahir@thomsonreuters.com; +971 56 226 1754;))