Shell to Deliver Over 150,000 Barrels Daily as Bonga South West-Aparo Field Returns to Focus
By Naija Enquirer Staffk
Oil major Shell is moving to revive its long-delayed Bonga South West-Aparo offshore oil project, signaling renewed interest in Nigeria’s deepwater oil assets after nearly a decade of uncertainty.
The asset, located off the coast of Nigeria, has returned to focus as Shell launched a fresh tender process for the supply of a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel.
According to industry publication Upstream, the proposed FPSO is being designed for a production capacity of approximately 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
No Final Investment Decision Yet
While the tender process marks a significant step in the project’s revival, it does not yet amount to a Final Investment Decision (FID), which Shell has not announced at this stage.
Shell had previously estimated the total investment cost of the Bonga South West-Aparo project at about $12 billion in 2016.
Project Background and Delays
The Bonga South West-Aparo development is located in the deep offshore Oil Mining Lease (OML) 118, southwest of the existing Bonga field.
The project has suffered multiple delays since the mid-2010s, largely due to the global oil price crash that began in 2014, internal capital allocation priorities within Shell, and prolonged contractual and regulatory uncertainties.
Nigeria’s Output Still Below Target
The renewed activity comes at a time when Nigeria’s crude oil production remains below official government targets.
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shows that crude output averaged between 1.38 million and 1.53 million barrels per day during the first eleven months of 2025, significantly below the two million barrels per day target set by the authorities.
Deepwater Assets Gain Renewed Interest
Although the FPSO tender does not yet represent a definitive green light for full-scale development, it reflects growing operator interest in Nigeria’s deepwater assets.
Industry analysts note that offshore fields are often considered more attractive due to their reduced exposure to security challenges that have historically affected onshore oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.
Similar Moves by Other Operators
Shell’s move follows similar signals from other international oil companies operating in Nigeria.
In May 2025, U.S. oil major ExxonMobil announced plans to invest $1.5 billion to rejuvenate its Nigerian deepwater portfolio, including the Usan field, although a final investment decision expected in the third quarter of 2025 is yet to be formally confirmed.
Similarly, TotalEnergies expanded its footprint in Nigeria’s deepwater segment in September 2025 by signing production sharing contracts for two offshore blocks, PPL 2000 and PPL 2001.
Together, these developments underscore a cautious but growing revival of interest in Nigeria’s offshore oil sector amid ongoing efforts to boost national crude production.
