Oil export drop imminent as Shell shuts Bonga Production Vessel for scheduled maintenance
Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria.
There are indications of a drop in oil output following the shutdown of the 225,000 barrels per day (bpd) Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FSPO) Vessel operated by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO).
Mr Michael Adande, Spokesman for the oil firm in a statement disclosed that the maintenance which commenced on May 21, will last till July.
Although SNEPCO declined to comment on its daily production output, the facility with capacity to produce up to 225,000 bpd according to a schedule obtained by NAN is expected to produce and export 127,000 bpd in June.
Bonga FPSO, stationed at Shell’s offshore field some 120 kilometers off the Atlantic coastline is scheduled to process and export 123,000 bpd in May.
The vessel which commenced production in November 2005 has storage capacity for two million barrels.
The oil firm stated it remains optimistic of conducting the maintenance in a timely and safe manner.
“The Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company commenced Scheduled Maintenance Activities (SMA) on the Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel on May 21.
“The scope includes statutory recertification and critical asset integrity activities and will run until July during which there will be a few days of total shutdown.
“SNEPCo recognises the significance of the health, security and safety of its staff and contractors and is taking great measures to complete the SMA safely and in record time.” Shell said..
On the possibility of ramping up production from other assets, the Spokesman said the SNEPCO and Shell Petroleum Development and Production Company were separate entities and run separately.
