Paris, Sep 25 (IANS): France's largest oil producer Total has announced a new scheme to increase output to 3 million barrels of oil equivalent per day by 2017, up from 2.3 million barrels reported last year.

For 2017, Total eyes to accelerate production "based on its portfolio of high-quality projects", with 70 percent of the planned output was "already in production or under development", it said in a statement posted on its website, reported Xinhua.

"Total's bold exploration programme is focused on high-risk, high-reward prospects and new acreage has added to the potential for giant discoveries," the group added.

For the 2011-15 period, the French oil and gas producer targets to expand its production by 3 percent per year.

It also expects to garner an additional $650 million of net income by 2015 "through improved efficiencies and synergies".

The French largest hydrocarbons producer expanded its adjusted net income by 12 percent to 5.89 billion euros ($7.6 billion) during the first half of last year.