Shell UK announces investments to expand Bonga field’s output

Nathan Tamarapeye, Yenagoa

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), a subsidiary of Shell UK PLC, announced a final investment decision (FID) on Bonga North, a deep-water project off the coast of Nigeria.

It was learnt that the project to harness over 300 million barrels of oil reserve would add 110,000 barrels per day (bpd) to Nigeria’s daily oil output when completed.

The intention was contained in a statement by Zoë Yujnovich, Shell UK’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director availed this to newsmen on Monday.

According to the statement, Bonga North would be a subsea tie-back to the Shell-operated Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility which Shell operates with a 55 per cent interest.

The energy firm said the Bonga North project involves drilling, completing, and starting up 16 wells (8 production and 8 water injection wells), modifications to the existing Bonga Main FPSO and the installation of new subsea hardware tied back to the FPSO.

“The project will sustain oil and gas production at the Bonga facility. Bonga North currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and will reach a peak production of 110,000 barrels of oil a day, with the first oil anticipated by the end of the decade.

“This is another significant investment, which will help us to maintain stable liquids production from our advantaged Upstream portfolio,” said Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director. The firm also stated that Bonga North will help ensure Shell’s leading Integrated Gas and Upstream business continues to drive cash generation into the next decade.