Our first steps: 1936 - 1979

First Steps 

  • 1936 - The Royal Dutch/Shell Group founded Shell D'Arcy, the first Shell company in Nigeria.
  • November 1938 - Shell D'Arcy was granted Exploration licence to prospect for oil throughout Nigeria
  • January 1956 - First successful well drilled at Oloibiri by Shell D'Arcy
  • April 1956 - Changed name to Shell-BP Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited

First Oil

  • February 1958 – The first shipment of oil from Nigeria
  • April 1961 - Shell's Bonny Terminal was commissioned
  • September 1971 - Shell's Forcados Terminal was commissioned

Agreements

  • April 1973 - First participation agreement; Fed. Govt. acquires 35% shares in the Oil Companies
  • April 1974 - Second Participation Agreement; Federal Government increases equity to 55%
  • July 1979 - Third Participation Agreement (through NNPC) increases equity to 60%
  • August 1979 - Fourth Participation Agreement; BP's share holding nationalised; NNPC = 80%, Shell = 20%

New frontiers: 1979 - 2005

Changes

  • December 1979 - Company name changed to Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC)
  • August 1984 - Agreement consolidating NNPC/Shell Joint Venture
  • January 1986 - Signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
  • June 1989 - Fifth Participation Agreement; (NNPC = 60%, Shell = 30%, Elf = 5%, Agip = 5%)
  • July 1991 - Signing of Memorandum of Understanding & Joint Venture Operating Agreement


New Frontiers

  • April 1993 - Production Sharing Contracts signed - SNEPCO
  • July 1993 - Sixth Participation Agreement; (NNPC = 55%, Shell = 30%, Elf = 10%, Agip = 5%)
  • April 1995 - SNEPCO starts drilling first Exploration well at Bonga (Nigeria's first deepwater oil field)
  • November 1995 - NLNG Final Investment Decision taken
  • March 1998 - Shell Nigeria Gas Company established
  • December 2002 - Commencement of production from EA field


One Million Barrel Mark

  • October 2003 - Achievement of 1 million + barrels of oil per day production from SPDC operations.


A New Face of SPDC

  • January 2004 - THE NEW SPDC - A restructuring exercise; Nigerians placed in top positions of Management.
  • January 2005 - New SPDC launched, Basil Omiyi appointed first Nigerian MD.
  • September 2005 -  Basil Omiyi became Country Chair, Nigeria; oversees all Shell Companies in Nigeria as well as Shell interests.
  • November 2005 - SNEPCO began oil and Gas production at Bonga

Rebirth: 2006 - 2010

Challenges and Rebirth

  • February 2006 – SPDC suspended operations in western Niger Delta due to increasing militant attacks. Production at EA was also suspended due to security concerns.
  • June 2006 –The Shell Companies in Nigeria committed to Nigeria Content Development - to maximise the participation of Nigerian businesses in all operations, thereby contributing to the development of Nigeria's industrial capabilities and competences, and supporting the nation's economy.
  • January 2008 – Mutiu Sunmonu was appointed as the Managing Director of SPDC.
  • March 2008 - Nigeria’s first 4D seismic acquisition in deepwater oil and gas operations was achieved at SNEPCo-operated Bonga field, 120km southwest of the Niger Delta.

Harnessing Nigeria's Gas Resources

  • October 2008 – The 240MMscf/d OKOLOMA Gas Plant started supply of the base load gas requirement of (190MMscf/d) gas to the Afam VI Power Plant

Forays into Power

  • July 2009 - The Afam VI Combined Cycle Power Plant commenced the supply of 442MW of power, providing additional stability to the National Power Grid.
  • July 2010 - The Gbaran Ubie integrated oil and gas project in Bayelsa state produced first gas.