French oil major Total SA (TOT) has contacted fellow oil major BP PLC (BP) about potentially helping dig "relief wells" to try to contain the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, Total's Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie said Friday.

The move is "out of solidarity," which prevails within the industry, de Margerie stressed, during the group's annual meeting in Paris .

The spill follows an explosion on a platform April 20.

Total provided assistance in the first days of the catastrophe, as employees on the platform were evacuated to Total's operations, a spokesman for the company noted.

"If there's anything we can do to help BP, then we will," the spokesman said. De Margerie said although the cause of the explosion is still unknown, Total has urged all its contractors and sub-contractors to exercise caution in light of the incident.

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