By Adedapo Adesanya
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), the Nigerian subsidiary of Shell Plc, has announced a final investment decision (FID) on Bonga North, a deep-water project off the coast of Nigeria.
This will be the first of such investments in over a decade.
According to a statement on Monday, Bonga North will 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.
Bonga is a deep-water development located in OML 118, at water depths exceeding 1,000 meters. Production at the Bonga FPSO began in 2005, with a capacity to produce 225,000 barrels of oil per day. The project produced its one-billionth barrel of crude oil in 2023.
This means Shell will operate the majority (55 per cent) in the Bonga field in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (20 per cent), Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd. (12.5 per cent), and TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. (12.5 per cent), on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.
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 investment in Bonga North is expected to generate an internal rate of return (IRR) in excess of the hurdle rate for Shell’s Upstream business,” the oil major said.
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 2030.
“This is another significant investment, which will help us to maintain stable liquids production from our advantaged Upstream portfolio,” said Ms Zoë Yujnovich, Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director.
President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the move saying it underscores the transformative impact of his administration’s policies and reforms in attracting investments in the oil and gas sector.
“This FID on Bonga North, and the FID on Ubeta earlier in 2024 both demonstrate the efficacy of the oil and gas reforms and directives championed by the President.
“These projects will trigger broader investments to revolutionise Nigeria’s power generation, transportation, and manufacturing sectors. In 2025 we anticipate further FIDs from international and domestic players. A new era of growth and opportunity for Nigeria,” according to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Ms Olu Verheijen.