Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has commenced planned maintenance on its Bonga deepwater oil vessel, temporarily reducing Nigeria’s oil export capacity by approximately 225,000 barrels per day, the company said.
The Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) unit, Nigeria’s first deepwater oil project, is located roughly 120 kilometres offshore in water depths exceeding 1,000 metres. The facility is capable of producing up to 150 million standard cubic feet of gas per day in addition to crude oil.
SNEPCo Managing Director Ronald Adams said the maintenance work includes statutory inspections, regulatory compliance checks, major integrity upgrades, and engineering modifications. The company emphasized that the interventions are designed to extend the vessel’s operational life by an additional 15 years while ensuring safe and efficient operations.
“The planned maintenance activities at Bonga are essential to maintain the integrity and long-term reliability of this flagship deepwater asset,” Adams said. “Our goal is to ensure the facility continues to operate safely and efficiently for many years to come.”
The temporary reduction in output comes at a time when Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, continues to navigate global market fluctuations, infrastructure challenges, and export obligations under the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production arrangements. Analysts said the 225,000 barrels-per-day impact, while significant, is unlikely to drastically alter Nigeria’s overall production profile, which averaged around 1.9 million barrels per day in late 2025.
Bonga, operated by SNEPCo with a portfolio of international partners, has been a critical component of Nigeria’s deepwater oil production strategy since it began operations in 2005. The FPSO facility has consistently contributed to Nigeria’s offshore output, complementing onshore and shallow-water production fields.
Planned maintenance of deepwater FPSOs is standard industry practice, aimed at extending the lifespan of high-capital assets and ensuring operational safety. Such interventions typically involve a combination of structural inspections, subsea equipment servicing, and upgrades to production and processing systems.
“The offshore environment is inherently challenging,” said a Lagos-based oil analyst. “Periodic maintenance is vital for safety, efficiency, and asset longevity. While there is a short-term impact on export volumes, the long-term benefits for production reliability and safety are significant.”
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Nigeria’s oil sector has faced intermittent production disruptions in recent years due to pipeline leaks, crude theft, and unplanned maintenance across other offshore and onshore facilities. Against this backdrop, planned interventions like Bonga’s maintenance are viewed positively by market observers, as they help mitigate the risk of unplanned shutdowns that could cause more severe output losses.
The Bonga FPSO, a key deepwater asset in Nigeria’s offshore portfolio, produces high-quality crude that is primarily exported to international markets. Gas production from the facility also contributes to domestic energy supply, supporting power generation and industrial consumption.
Shell has not provided a precise timeline for the completion of maintenance but indicated that production would be restored progressively once work is finalized. The company noted that routine maintenance, combined with targeted upgrades, would enhance safety, operational reliability, and environmental compliance.
Nigeria’s oil industry remains critical to government revenue, accounting for a significant portion of exports and fiscal income. Planned maintenance projects like Bonga’s are part of broader strategies by international oil companies to balance production continuity, asset longevity, and regulatory compliance while navigating fluctuating global oil prices.
