TotalEnergies EP Nigeria Ltd. and partner Amni International Petroleum Development Co. Ltd. have taken final investment decision on the $1.108-billion Ima gas project, a shallow-water development straddling licenses OML 112 and OML 117 near Bonny Island, Nigeria. At plateau, the field is designed to deliver about 350 MMscfd — more than 60,000 boe/d — for at least 8 years.

The partners base the development on independently confirmed gross reserves of roughly 1.28 tcf of non-associated gas, targeting gas resources discovered alongside the original Ima oil accumulation. Amni disclosed the sanction decision Sept. 23.

Development scheme

The plan calls for a single platform tied back to Nigeria LNG — in which TotalEnergies holds 15% — via a 22-km pipeline. Power will come from shore. The design carries no flaring and includes permanent methane detection and monitoring, consistent with TotalEnergies' emissions commitments on new gas developments.

First gas is targeted for October 2028. Once on stream, Ima is expected to supply about one-third of the gas feed required for the Nigeria LNG Train 7 expansion, TotalEnergies said in a separate release. Train 7 will raise liquefaction capacity at the Bonny complex to 30 million tpy from the current 22 million tpy.

TotalEnergies operates the project with a 40% interest. Amni holds the remaining 60%.

The FID follows a 2024 heads of terms agreement and completion of technical, commercial, and contractual work, including front-end engineering design and execution of project agreements, Amni said. The project now moves into engineering, procurement, and construction.

Second sanction in Nigeria's gas push

The decision is TotalEnergies' second Nigerian gas sanction in 2 years, after the Ubeta project approved in 2024 and expected to start up next year. Together, the two projects extend the company's non-associated gas position feeding the NLNG system.

"After the Ubeta project sanctioned in 2024 and expected to start-up next year, Ima demonstrates again our ability to unlock new low-cost and low-emissions gas resources, following the incentives introduced by the Nigerian Government for non-associated gas developments," said Nicolas Terraz, president of exploration and production at TotalEnergies.

The incentives Terraz referenced underpin a broader shift by operators in the Niger Delta toward non-associated gas developments tied to domestic and export liquefaction demand.

Amni's growth platform

For Amni, a Nigerian independent, Ima anchors a growth program targeting production capacity of about 250,000 boe/d by 2031. The company's Nigerian portfolio holds more than 60 million bbl of oil and nearly 4 tcf of gas.

The Ima sanction also adds feedstock certainty to the NLNG expansion timeline. Train 7's uplift of 8 million tpy depends on new upstream gas supply, and Ima's one-third contribution makes it one of the larger dedicated sources sanctioned for the project to date.

Engineering, procurement, and construction contracting details, including the platform fabrication award, have not been disclosed. Watch for EPC contract awards in coming months and confirmation that the October 2028 first-gas date holds as the schedule enters execution.