OAO Lukoil Holdings (LKOH.RS), Russia's No. 2 oil producer, has reached a deal with France's Total S.A. (TOT) for a joint bid on tenders for offshore hydrocarbon projects in Lebanon, Lukoil's chief executive, Vagit Alekperov, said Thursday.

"In Lebabnon, we have reached agreement with Total about joint participation in the tender and will be partners with them," Mr. Alekperov told reporters.

Lukoil has in recent years been looking abroad to offset production declines at its core fields in
Western Siberia .

James Marson in Moscow contributed to this item.