SNEPCo commences strategic turnaround maintenance @Bonga FPSO, bolster asset longevity - ITREALMS

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Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has officially kicked off a comprehensive turnaround maintenance (TAM) program at the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, reports ITREALMS.

This critical exercise serves as a statutory integrity assurance initiative, specifically engineered to extend the operational lifespan of the facility and ensure its continued reliability.

SNEPCo Managing Director, Ronald Adams, explained that the scheduled maintenance is designed to guarantee that the FPSO operates safely and efficiently for at least another 15 years.


By reducing unplanned deferments and strengthening the asset’s overall resilience, the company aims to optimize production long-term. Operations are expected to resume in March following the successful completion of the maintenance scope.

The intensive work program includes mandatory statutory inspections, regulatory compliance certifications, and major asset-integrity upgrades. Additionally, the team will execute engineering modifications and subsea assurance activities intended to modernize the facility's long-term operational capabilities.

Located approximately 120 km offshore in water depths exceeding 1,000 meters, the Bonga FPSO remains a cornerstone of Nigeria's energy sector, with a daily capacity of 225,000 barrels of oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas.

This year’s maintenance arrives at a pivotal juncture for SNEPCo and its co-venture partners. Following the 2024 Final Investment Decision (FID) on Bonga North; a subsea tie-back development, the reliability of the Bonga FPSO has become even more vital. 

The current turnaround is essential to prep the facility for the increased volumes and heightened operational demands that the Bonga North project will bring.

Historically, the Bonga asset has proven to be a prolific contributor to the national economy. Following its last major maintenance in October 2022, the vessel reached a historic milestone on February 1, 2023, by delivering its one-billionth barrel of oil since production began in 2005.

SNEPCo continues to operate the Bonga field in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited, under a Production Sharing Contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).

Uboshe Uboshe/Editor

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