Shell resumes production at Bonga FPSO after successful turnaround maintenance
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo) has successfully completed turnaround maintenance (TAM) on the Bonga Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, marking the resumption of production at Nigeria’s flagship deepwater oil field on March 6, 2026.
According to a company statement released Friday, the maintenance project was delivered 11 days ahead of schedule and without any safety incidents, underscoring the operational efficiency and professionalism of the team involved.
“Completing the turnaround safely and ahead of schedule is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our Nigerian workforce and the valuable support of our partners,” SNEPCo Managing Director Ronald Adams said.
Adams emphasised that the successful TAM not only safeguards the long-term integrity of the Bonga FPSO but also positions the company for the upcoming Bonga North project, which would leverage the enhanced reliability of the FPSO platform.
The exercise, which began on February 1, 2026, highlighted the depth of local content in Nigeria’s deepwater oil sector.
Of the 55 companies involved in the turnaround, 43 were wholly Nigerian, while eight of the 12 international service providers maintain operational bases in Nigeria, contributing to knowledge transfer and investment in local capacity.
“More than 1,000 personnel worked offshore during the turnaround, with over 95 per cent being Nigerians involved in maintenance, engineering, operations, inspection, and construction,” Adams added.
“Thousands more supported activities from onshore locations, reflecting the strong capability of Nigeria’s oil and gas workforce.”
The Managing Director also acknowledged the role of several key stakeholders in the project’s successful execution, including the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and SNEPCo’s partners.
The completion of the Bonga FPSO turnaround not only ensures continuity of production in Nigeria’s premier deepwater field but also reinforces SNEPCo’s commitment to local capacity development and operational excellence in the country’s oil and gas sector.
