Shell's Nigerian Woes Continue

Shell admitted on Friday that its offshore, oil field in Nigeria's Bonga region is not expected to come on stream until 2005.

"As we indicated on Feb. 5, we have some challenges to deal with on Bonga," a Shell spokeswoman said. "We are working to get it up and running as quickly as possible and we expect to be on stream next year."

Bonga was originally scheduled for start-up in June 2004, but this was revised to late 2004 earlier this year. Nigeria's presidential adviser on petroleum Edmund Daukoru said only a day before Shell's announcement that he still expected to see Bonga on stream before the end of the year.

Shell has a 55% stake in Bonga, with Exxon Mobil holding 20%, Eni 12.5% and Total 12.5%. The field is expected to produce 225,000 b/d.