Production Resumes at Nigerian Wells
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) had shut down production from the Bonga field after a leak occurred on one of the three export loading lines as oil was being transferred from the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel to a loading tanker.
Shell Nigeria Country chair, Mutiu Sunmonu, said to have isolated the faulty line, which was the only one of its type in the Bonga field, and reinforced the asset integrity and safety programme.
Satellite and aerial imagery have according to Shell confirmed that the Bonga oil leak could not have reached coastlines in the eastern Niger Delta, as some media articles have suggested. Images of a third party spill, which appeared to be from a vessel, have appeared in the middle of the area that previously was cleaned up. Oil from the Bonga leak had largely dispersed by Sunday 25th December 2011 due to the integrated efforts of SNEPCo, the Nigerian government and industry partners in the application of dispersants, and natural processes of dispersal and evaporation.
Samples of the third party spill have been taken as part of the joint investigation in order to establish beyond doubt that it is not Bonga oil on the beach. It will be good if all parties would wait for the outcome of the investigation.
The Sea Eagle was shut in on 9th November 2011 for the exercise, which included repairs to the Soft Yoke Mooring Platform and Relief Valve Recertification.
