Bonga Field
Encyclopedia
The Bonga Field is an oilfield in Nigeria
. It was located in License block OPL 212 off the Nigerian coast, which was renamed OML 118 in February 2000. The field covers approximately 60 km2 in an average water depth of 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft). The field was discovered in 1996, with government approval for its development given in 2002. The field began first production in November 2005. The field is produced via a FPSO
vessel. The field produces both petroleum
and natural gas
; the petroleum is offloaded to tankers while the gas is piped back to Nigeria where it is exported via an LNG plant. The field contains approximately 6,000 mmBoe
.
The field is operated by Shell Nigeria
who own 55% of the license. The other partners in the field development are Exxon
(20%), Nigerian AGIP
(12.5%) and Elf Petroleum (12.5%)
, the first discovery well was spudded in September 1995 after acquiring extensive information about the block via a 3D seismic survey in 1993/94.
A secondary field was discovered in the block in May 2001 known as Bonga SW, which encountered significant hydrocarbon
s. A third field was discovered later in 2004 which is known as Bonga North.
Oil produced from the field is stored on the FPSO for transport to markets via tanker while the gas is exported via a pipeline to the Nigerian Coast for LNG.
The FPSO built by Samsung Heavy industries contained a number of firsts for its type.
Production at the well was shut down for three weeks after June 19, 2008, after an attack by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. It was located in License block OPL 212 off the Nigerian coast, which was renamed OML 118 in February 2000. The field covers approximately 60 km2 in an average water depth of 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft). The field was discovered in 1996, with government approval for its development given in 2002. The field began first production in November 2005. The field is produced via a FPSO
Floating Production Storage and Offloading
A floating production, storage and offloading unit is a floating vessel used by the offshore industry for the processing of hydrocarbons and for storage of oil. A FPSO vessel is designed to receive hydrocarbons produced from nearby platforms or subsea template, process them, and store oil until it...
vessel. The field produces both petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
and natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
; the petroleum is offloaded to tankers while the gas is piped back to Nigeria where it is exported via an LNG plant. The field contains approximately 6,000 mmBoe
Boe
- Abbreviations, acronyms or initialisms :* Bank of England, the central bank of the United Kingdom* Barrel of oil equivalent, a unit of energy* Bastards of Evil, a comic book supervillain team* Bill of Exchange* Blades of Exile, a computer role-playing game...
.
The field is operated by Shell Nigeria
Shell Nigeria
Shell Nigeria is the colloquial name for Royal Dutch Shell's Nigerian operations carried out through four subsidiaries—primarily through Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited...
who own 55% of the license. The other partners in the field development are Exxon
Exxon
Exxon is a chain of gas stations as well as a brand of motor fuel and related products by ExxonMobil. From 1972 to 1999, Exxon was the corporate name of the company previously known as Standard Oil Company of New Jersey or Jersey Standard....
(20%), Nigerian AGIP
Agip
Agip is an Italian automotive gasoline and diesel retailer established in 1926. It is a subsidiary of the multinational petroleum company Eni.In 2003, Eni S.p.A...
(12.5%) and Elf Petroleum (12.5%)
Field history
Located 120 kilometres (74.6 mi) southwest of the Niger DeltaNiger Delta
The Niger Delta, the delta of the Niger River in Nigeria, is a densely populated region sometimes called the Oil Rivers because it was once a major producer of palm oil...
, the first discovery well was spudded in September 1995 after acquiring extensive information about the block via a 3D seismic survey in 1993/94.
A secondary field was discovered in the block in May 2001 known as Bonga SW, which encountered significant hydrocarbon
Hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups, called hydrocarbyls....
s. A third field was discovered later in 2004 which is known as Bonga North.
Field development
The has been produced as a subsea tie back to a Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessel (FPSO). Currently there are 16 oil producing and water injection wells on the field however this will be increased to nearly 40 wells as the field is developed further. Due to the large size of the Bonga SW it is currently thought it will require separate production facility to adequately produce the field.Oil produced from the field is stored on the FPSO for transport to markets via tanker while the gas is exported via a pipeline to the Nigerian Coast for LNG.
The FPSO built by Samsung Heavy industries contained a number of firsts for its type.
Production at the well was shut down for three weeks after June 19, 2008, after an attack by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta is one of the largest militant groups in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The organization claims to expose exploitation and oppression of the people of the Niger Delta and devastation of the natural environment by public-private partnerships...
.