(Ecofin Agency) - Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) on Monday announced the shutting down of Nigeria’s Bonga oil field for maintenance. This aimed at ensuring a continuous optimal operation at the field.

“The exercise will help ensure sustained production and reduced unscheduled production deferments. This is the fourth turnaround maintenance since Bonga began production,” Bayo Ojulari, the Managing Director of SNEPCo, said.

According to Ojulari, the main focus of the operation is on the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which is the heart component of Bonga operations. He said production from the field is expected next month, once the exercise has been concluded.

The deepwater field, which began production in November 2005, has the capacity to produce 225,000 barrels of oil per day and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (Mmscf/d). The shutdown will thus cause the company a loss of N3.32bn ($10.8m) and N129.58m ($424,500) per day respectively (at an oil price of $54.4 per barrel and $2.83 per 1,000 scf of gas).

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).

Anita Fatunji