ENI/Shell - ZabaZaba Offshore FPSO Development
ENI, in partnership with Shell and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), is undertaking the construction of a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) facility for deep-water oil and gas fields. Located in Nigeriaâs offshore block PML 102 and PML 103 (formerly OPL 245), the project targets the Zabazaba and Etan oil fields.
This development uses advanced deep-water technology, including an FPSO vessel with a capacity of 150,000 barrels of oil per day and a gas processing output of 200 million cubic feet per day. The facility will be spread-moored and process oil and associated gas, exporting gas via Nigeria LNG. A key feature is substantial local content: over 50% of FPSO topside fabrication and integration will occur in Nigeria.
The project aims to recover roughly 500-560 million barrels of oil equivalent, bring first oil and gas production by 2029, and boost Nigeriaâs production by approximately 150,000 barrels per day. Outcomes will include increased export revenues, strengthened energy infrastructure, and enhanced industry capability in deep-water production.
The US$13,500 million project includes the following:
1. Construction of an FPSO vessel with a production capacity of 17,751 oil tonnes per day (tpd)
2. Installation of processing systems for oil separation, water treatment, storage, and gas handling
3. Laying of subsea infrastructure, including risers, pipelines, and umbilicals
4. Construction of production and injection wells and associated subsea clusters
5. Installation of gas export facility
6. Installation of oil export offloading systems, including calm buoys and tanker loading facilities
7. Installation of electrical, instrumentation, control and safety systems
8. Construction of supporting facilities
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27 April 2026
The Government of Nigeria has approved the 10.3 billion investment for the development of the project.
03 February 2026
The project is getting delayed due to financial issues and regulatory uncertainty. The financial investment decision is yet to be finalized on the project.
12 August 2025
The project has been revived and the client is planning for the final investment decision for the development of the project.
23 January 2025
We have not been able to obtain further updates on this project. We have retained the same project stage and amended the key dates accordingly. We will update the profile as soon as we obtain any new information.
13 March 2024
The project is expected to be revived soon as the legal issues have been resolved.
07 November 2023
We have not been able to obtain further updates on this project. We have retained the same project stage and amended the key dates accordingly. We will update the profile as soon as we obtain any new information.
21 April 2023
The project continues to be on hold due to legal disputes.
04 August 2022
The project is still on hold due to legal disputes.
25 March 2022
We have not been able to obtain further updates on this project. We have retained the same project stage and amended the key dates accordingly. We will update the profile as soon as we obtain any new information.
14 December 2021
The project is facing delay due to legal disputes.
14 March 2021
The project was placed on hold due to legal disputes over block OPL 245.
21 December 2020
The project is facing a delay due to the FID and the contract for the project was not yet awarded.
04 February 2020
The project is facing delay due to disputs of Oil Prospecting Lease (OPL) 245.
17 January 2019
The project was facing delay due to delay in Final Investment Descision (FID).
19 October 2018
The project was facing delay.
19 September 2018
The project was facing delay.
02 May 2018
The project was facing delay over the local content.
30 April 2018
Bumi Armada was considered as the front-runner.
20 November 2017
Saipem S.p.A and Bluewater Energy Services was selected as the lowest bidder with a bid amount of US$5,400 million.
30 August 2017
NAE completed the evaluation of technical and commercial bids.
01 July 2017
The project is facing delay, due to the undisclosed ownership issues.
30 June 2017
NAE requested the pre-qualified bidders to submit the commercial and technical bids.
01 March 2017
The project is facing delay, due to the undisclosed ownership issues.
01 October 2016
Bumi Armada, BW Offshore, Saipem and JV of SBM Offshore N.V and China National Offshore Oil Corporation were selected as the pre-qualified bidders and technical bids were submitted. However, BW Offshore was shortlisted for the original contract.
01 January 2014
NAE and SNEPCO announced plans to develop the ZabaZaba FPSO project.