Total SA (NYSE: TOT) agreed to buy Samson Offshore Anchor LLC in a deal which the French oil and gas company said Jan. 24 would strengthen its presence in deepwater Gulf of Mexico (GoM).

Samson Offshore Anchor holds a 12.5% interest in four blocks covering the Anchor discovery, one of the most significant recent discoveries in the U.S. GoM, according to Total's press release.

Total said the deal also includes a 12.5% interest in the nearby exploration block Green Canyon 761, where the company already has a 25% interest.

"The entry in the Anchor discovery further increases Total’s footprint in deepwater Gulf of Mexico," said Arnaud Breuillac, president of exploration and production at Total, in a statement.

The Anchor site is operated by Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX), which has a 55% stake, and Cobalt International Energy Inc. and Venari Resources LLC which have respective stakes of 20% and 12.5%.