Bonga sets maritime towing record

Shell has broken maritime records to bring the largest vessel along England's River Tyne to Newcastle. It took eight tugs to tow the hull of the Bonga FPSO facility that is 300 m long, 75 m wide, and 12 stories tall into a shipyard in Newcastle.
The vessel was constructed in South Korea and towed 13,000 nautical mi to Newcastle at 5 knots.
Shell Shipping Technology managed the Bonga hull construction to ensure all design and quality specifications were met. They also reviewed and monitored the arrangements for the tow departure from Korea and voyage to Newcastle, and were closely involved in planning and executing the challenging River Tyne transit.
The FPSO's topside modules will be installed at Newcastle, and Shell Shipping Technology will continue to be involved in the project until the completed FPSO is towed to its permanent mooring at the Bonga field, 120 km off the coast of the Niger Delta in Nigeria. It will be capable of producing 225,000 b/d, exporting 150 MMcf/d of gas, and have a storage capacity of 2 MMbbl. First oil is expected in 1Q 2004.
The Bonga project is initially expected to develop 600-700 MMbbl of Nigeria's crude oil. The field, which covers a surface area of 60 sq km, lies in 1,000-m and 1,100-m water depth.
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co. Ltd. is operator of the Bonga oil and gas field development on behalf of Nigerian National Petroleum Corp. Co-venturers with SNEPCo 55% are Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Ltd. 20%, Elf Petroleum Nigeria Ltd. 12.5%, and Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd. 12.5%.
11/22/02