Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has begun the turnaround maintenance at Bonga, executing statutory activities that will ensure continuous optimum operations at the deep-water field which began producing in November 2005.
Mr Precious Okolobo, the company’s media relations officer, said in a statement in Lagos on Monday that the production from the field was shut down on March 4, and expected to resume at the conclusion of the exercise in April.
Mr Bayo Ojulari, Managing Director, SNEPco, said it was the fourth maintenance since Bonga began production.
According to him, the exercise will help ensure sustained production and reduce unscheduled production deferments.
“ For the Bonga team, this is another opportunity to excel, having won the ‘Asset of the Year’ Award 2016 in the Shell Group, followed by runners-up in Norway and Malaysia.
“We are pleased that the award recognised the continuing collaboration towards optimum production with a focus on safety, cost and Nigerian content development which will be invaluable in the maintenance work,’’ he said.
He said that the turnaround maintenance involved inspections, recertification, testing and repair of equipment as well as engineering upgrades with Nigerian companies and subsea professionals playing key roles.
The SNEPco boss said that a major focus was the Bonga floating, production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel, at the heart of Bonga operations.
The Bonga FPSO has the capacity to produce 225,000 barrels of oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day.
“It is Nigeria’s first deep-water development in depths of more than 1,000 metres, and is located 120 kilometres offshore Nigeria.
“ SNEPCo expanded the project with further drilling of wells in Bonga Phases 2 and 3 and through a subsea tie-back that unlocked the nearby Bonga North West field in August 2014.
Bonga Phase 3 achieved first oil in October 2015.
“SNEPCo operates Bonga in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deep Water) Limited; Total E&P Nigeria Limited; and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited under a Production Sharing Contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),’’ he said.
