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Barbados National Oil Company Limited (BNOC) manages the importation of gasoline, diesel, liquefied natural gas and fuel oil for Barbados. In 2020, and as part of the 2030 energy goal initiated by Prime Minister Mia Mottley, BNOC will install solar PV systems across homes of 300 employees as a pilot project meant to diversify its offerings and make available a renewable energy arm of the company
BNOC came into operation in June 1982 when the Barbados Government purchased the former Mobil Explorations Inc. production facilities at Woodbourne, St. Philip. It is a national oil company that is 75% government-owned and 25% owned by the National Petroleum Corporation (NPC). The company’s principal activities include upstream and downstream operations.
We operate in the upstream sector of Barbados under a Mineral Lease Agreement issued by Government. This allows us to carry out exploration and production activities in an area of 16,438 acres (6,652.2 hectares) in the Woodbourne, Scotland and Fisher Pond areas. Despite the complex geological conditions in Barbados we have managed to produce 10 million barrels of crude oil, 22.8 billion cubic feet of associated natural gas and 274,000 barrels of Liquid Petroleum Gas within the last 20 years.
BNOCL sells its indigenous natural gas to the NPC. In addition, BNOCL operates a re-gasification plant that converts liquefied natural gas (LNG) into natural gas for distribution to NPC. About 57% of the product sold to NPC is from the indigenous gas.
The Barbados National Oil Company provides several services for the country. Among these services are the production of crude oil and natural gas
Our main focus is on the onshore exploration and production of Barbados’ hydrocarbon resources. The company continues to explore and review new geophysical concepts with the hope of finding some exploration technique that would assist in unraveling the complex geology and thereby provide more successful drilling locations. EM technology and down-hole seismic acquisition are some of the new concepts being considered for the Woodbourne Field.
BNOCL has employed various drilling concepts over time to determine what is best suited for the exploitation of the hydrocarbon reserves. Most of the wells are vertical however in recent times more directional wells have been completed while 5 horizontal wells have been drilled to target specific horizons. The company owns a Cabot 750 drilling rig. Woodbourne is our main area of operation. Wells are typically 6000 feet deep with roil reservoir sands occurring between 2000 and 6000 feet. To date over 200 wells have been drilled in the Woodbourne Development area.
We have undertaken a water quality monitoring programme since 1997.
BNTCL’S facility is equipped with a small laboratory to carry out field testing as required by international standards such as Joint Inspection Guidelines for the storage and handling of aviation fuel. It is currently building its inventory of equipment with a view of becoming accredited to ISO standards and becoming self-sufficient in the testing and analysis of all petroleum products.
We conduct sieve analysis of sand as part of our reservoir characterisation.
BNTCL was established to manage the importation, storage and distribution of the country’s gasoline, diesel and fuel oil, as well as the exportation of crude oil. The fuels are stored at the BNTCL’s Fairy Valley Facility, with the exception of heavy fuel oil which is stored at the Esso Holborn terminal. Gasoline and diesel are carried to Fairy Valley and crude oil from Fairy Valley via pipeline leading from the Oistins Berth where the tankers dock.
BNTCL also imports, stores and distributes aviation fuel, jet A1, on behalf of the major oil companies SOL, Esso and Chevron. The majority of the Jetfuel imported is transferred to the Joint venture facility at the airport where it is used to fuel airplanes. Additionally, some of it is transferred via pipeline to the adjacent Barbados Light and Power plant where it is used to generate electricity. It is also sold as kerosene at the loading rack where trucks collect it for domestic consumption.
BNOCL supplies diesel and fuel oil to the bunkering sector. BNOCL utilises a vessel under time-charter to freight both its imported and exported products.
Starting next year, a total of 300 people within the Barbados National Oil Company Limited (BNOCL) will receive photovoltaic (PV) systems as part of a small pilot project.
The state-owned fossil fuel production and distribution firms are to be merged and rebranded as a “national energy corporation” in line with the government’s renewable energy push, Minister of Energy Wilfred Abrahams said.
