Shell Ramps up Oil Production in Bonga Field after Shutdown
Kechi, Sosoliso crash survivor on thank you visit to oil firm
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) has stated that crude oil production in Bonga deepwater oilfield is “being ramped up gradually” after brief shutdown.
This is coming as Miss Kechi Okwuchi, a survivor of the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash that claimed many lives visited Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) to express gratitude for the medical and financial assistance the company rendered to her after the tragic incident
A spokesman of the company said the oil giant performed a “brief shutdown” last month for repairs on a piping system.
He added that “further checks and ancillary repairs” mean that oil and gas production were gradually ramping up
Reuters quoted oil traders as saying that the maintenance had impacted oil loadings.
According to the traders, a list of vessel loadings showed the last cargo to load crude oil from the Bonga field was the Suezmax Sea Garnet on January 17.
The Narmada Spirit is expected to load early this week, according to loading plans seen by Reuters
Bonga has a capacity to produce 225,000 barrels per day of oil and 150 million standard cubic feet of gas
Shell had in March 2017 shut down the oilfield to carry out turnaround maintenance, and also execute statutory activities to ensure continuous optimum operations.
The turnaround maintenance involved inspections, recertification, testing and repair of equipment as well as engineering upgrades with Nigerian companies and subsea professional playing key roles.
A major focus of the maintenance was the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which is at the heart of Bonga operations.
Bonga FPSO, which has a life-span of 20 years, was shut down for six weeks in February 2011 for maintenance.
Located in Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 212, the 60-squarekilometre field is situated in water depths of over 1,000 metres.
Bonga is Nigeria’s first deepwater development and is located 120 kilometres, offshore Nigeria.
In a related development, there were emotional scenes recently as Miss Kechi Okwuchi, a survivor of the 2005 Sosoliso plane crash that claimed many lives visited SPDC to express gratitude for the medical and financial assistance the company rendered to her after the tragic incident.
Kechi, her father’s friend, Mazi Victor Okoronkwo and her aunty, Mrs. Uloma Umeano were received by Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor.
Kechi, who was returning from school in Abuja to Port Harcourt, survived the crash but suffered third-degree burns.
When her plight came to the notice of SPDC, the company promptly stepped in and ensured that she was air-lifted to South Africa for immediate medical attention and treatment.
She later moved to the United States where she has undergone several surgeries with SPDC’s continued financial support.
Kechi’s father, Okwuchi, in a letter read by Mazi Okoronkwo said “On December 10, 2005, Shell intervened, notwithstanding the medical uncertainty to save life regardless of cost; intervention propelled by a corporate policy that puts life above else. We thank and applaud you for it.”
Kechi said during her ‘thank you’ mission: “I am incredibly grateful and I walk through every day of my life knowing that I am here today because of the amount of effort SPDC put into making sure that I stayed alive… you came when all looked dark and you shone a light of hope into my life.”
Kechi also presented a certificate of recognition from the Shriners Hospitals for Children (Galveston, Texas) to SPDC for its thoughtful and generous contribution to the hospital.