Introduction

OML 11 lies in the southeastern Niger Delta and contains 33 oil and gas fields. This makes it one of the most important blocks in Nigeria. The terrain is swamp to the south with numerous rivers and creeks. Port Harcourt is located in the northwest of the block, while the major yard and logistics base at onne is located by the Bonny River. The Bonny oil terminal – the largest in Nigeria – and Nigeria LNG (NLNG) are both at Bonny Island within OML 11. These terminals are supplied with oil and gas from all over the delta as well as offshore fields. A high density of inter-field flowlines and strategic trunklines traverse OML 11.

In the central part of the block – and comprising about 30% of its area – lies the region of Ogoniland. In the late 1980s, concerns over the environmental impact of oil operations resulted in organised protests by the Ogoni people. Infrastructure was vandalised and increasing hostility towards oil operations made the region off-limits. In 1993, intervention by the Nigerian military followed by the execution of leading campaigners for the Ogonis in 1995, effectively ended all operations by Shell. All production in Ogoniland has been shut-in since. However, Ogoniland is still a transit route for a major pipeline transporting crude from other parts of the onshore delta.

Production from OML 11 is from six fields, outwith the Ogoni region. OML 11 also contributes substantial volumes of gas to NLNG, primarily from the Bonny field in the south of the block. Shell also operates the Afam VI gas-fired power station, which is supplied from the Afam field in the north of the block.

In July 2018,Bloomberg reported that Shell in talks to sell the asset.

In March 2019,President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to take over the operatorship of the entire Oil Mining Lease 11 from Shell Petroleum Development Company.

Operator:

NPDC(Nigeria)

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC)(Nigeria)