Nigeria loses 225,000 bpd as Shell begins major maintenance on Bonga oil platform

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has launched a maintenance program on its Bonga floating oil platform, a critical asset that produces more than 225,000 barrels per day in one of Nigeria’s most significant deepwater developments.

The turnaround maintenance on the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel is designed to extend the facility’s operational life by 15 years and ensure continued safe production from the offshore field, the company said on Sunday.

“The scheduled maintenance activity is designed to ensure the FPSO continues to operate safely and efficiently for the next 15 years, while reducing unplanned deferments and strengthening the asset’s overall resilience,” Ronald Adams, managing director, SNEPCo said in a statement.

Operations are expected to resume in March following completion of the work, Adams added.

The maintenance program encompasses statutory inspections, certification processes, regulatory compliance checks, and major integrity upgrades. Engineering modifications aimed at improving long-term operations and subsea assurance activities are also included in the scope.

Located approximately 120 kilometers offshore in water depths exceeding 1,000 meters, the Bonga FPSO has a production capacity of 225,000 barrels of oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas daily. The facility plays a vital role in Nigeria’s energy security and government revenue generation.

The timing of the turnaround is strategically significant for SNEPCo and its joint venture partners. In 2024, the partners approved a final investment decision on Bonga North, a subsea tie-back development that will rely on the Bonga FPSO’s processing capacity.

Successful completion of the current maintenance is considered essential for preparing the facility to handle additional production volumes and operational requirements from the new development.

The last turnaround maintenance on the FPSO was conducted in October 2022. Three months later, in February 2023, the asset reached a milestone by delivering its one billionth barrel of oil since production began in 2005.

SNEPCo operates the Bonga field under a production sharing contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd). Partners in the venture include Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has struggled in recent years to maintain production levels due to ageing infrastructure, theft, and underinvestment. Major maintenance programs like the Bonga turnaround are viewed as crucial for sustaining output from mature fields while new developments come online.

The Bonga field represents one of Nigeria’s most successful deepwater projects and has been a consistent contributor to the country’s oil production since the mid-2000s.

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