Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has begun a major maintenance shutdown on the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel as part of efforts to safeguard the asset’s long-term performance and reliability.
The company disclosed in a statement that the exercise, known as turnaround maintenance, is a mandatory programme focused on statutory inspections and asset integrity assurance. SNEPCo said the maintenance work is intended to prolong the operational lifespan of the offshore facility, with production expected to restart in March once the exercise is completed.
According to the company, the maintenance campaign is a carefully planned intervention carried out periodically on large production facilities to ensure they continue to meet safety, regulatory, and operational standards. The Bonga FPSO, which has been in operation for nearly two decades, is undergoing the process to prepare it for continued service over the next 15 years.
SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, described the turnaround as a critical investment in the future of the asset. He said the work would help minimise unexpected production disruptions while improving the overall robustness of the facility. Adams noted that the programme is designed to ensure the FPSO remains capable of operating safely and efficiently over the long term, adding that the company anticipates resuming production in March following the completion of all scheduled activities.
The scope of the maintenance work is broad and technically demanding. SNEPCo said it includes mandatory inspections, recertification, and compliance checks required by regulators, as well as significant upgrades to the vessel’s structural and mechanical systems. Engineering improvements are also being implemented to enhance long-term operational efficiency, alongside subsea integrity and assurance activities aimed at ensuring the reliability of underwater production infrastructure linked to the FPSO.
Located about 120 kilometres offshore Nigeria in water depths of more than 1,000 metres, the Bonga FPSO is one of the country’s flagship deepwater assets. The facility is capable of producing up to 225,000 barrels of crude oil per day and processing about 150 million standard cubic feet of gas daily, playing a key role in Nigeria’s offshore oil and gas output.
SNEPCo stressed that keeping the FPSO in optimal condition is vital to sustaining consistent production and supporting Nigeria’s broader energy ambitions. The company said the asset remains strategically important to the country’s energy security and revenue generation, underscoring the need for regular and thorough maintenance interventions.
The company also highlighted the strategic timing of the current turnaround maintenance. In 2024, SNEPCo and its joint-venture partners approved the final investment decision for the Bonga North project, a subsea tie-back development that will channel additional production to the existing Bonga FPSO. The success of that project, SNEPCo noted, depends heavily on the reliability, capacity, and resilience of the FPSO.
As a result, the ongoing maintenance exercise is seen as a crucial step in preparing the facility to accommodate increased production volumes and higher operational demands associated with the new development. SNEPCo said ensuring the FPSO is fully fit for purpose will be central to the smooth integration of Bonga North into the existing production system.
The statement recalled that the last major turnaround maintenance on the Bonga FPSO was conducted in October 2022. The asset subsequently reached a historic milestone on February 1, 2023, when it produced its one-billionth barrel of oil since operations began in 2005.
SNEPCo operates the Bonga field on behalf of its partners Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited under a Production Sharing Contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.
However, the company did not indicate whether the maintenance shutdown would have any immediate impact on Nigeria’s daily oil output or how much production would be deferred during the period.
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