Lower costs and project delays may allow oil major Total SA (TOT) to spend less than its planned 2009 capital expenditure budget of $18 billion, Chief Financial Officer Patrick de la Chevardiere said Wednesday.

However, there may be other opportunities for spending over the year, he added, while speaking on a conference call to discuss the company's first-quarter results.

-By Adam Mitchell, Dow Jones Newswires; +33 1 40171756; adam.mitchell@dowjones.com