French company "Total" is close to extending an offshore natural gas exploration program in Cyprus after coming up empty in prior surveys, said minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Cyprus Yiorgos Lakkotrypis. Cyprus energy minister said that the renewed agreement hopefully will be sign next week and it will be about doing geological surveys in a different area but no drilling. "Total" confirmed in January that it had completed surveys over two Cypriot offshore blocks for which it had licenses, without finding potential drilling targets. Italy’s ENI failed to find gas in a drill last year and is now searching elsewhere off Cyprus. U.S. energy company Noble found gas reserves in 2011.