Shell Unlocks Aphrodite Field, Targeting First Gas in Q2 2027
Shell has reached an agreement with the National Gas Company (NGC) on commercial terms for natural gas supply, clearing the way for production to begin at the Aphrodite field in Trinidad and Tobago.
The first gas is expected in the second quarter of 2027, according to Gerald Ramdeen, chairman of NGC. This development represents a significant change from just a month ago when Shell had released the jack-up rig initially scheduled to drill the Aphrodite well after failing to reach commercial terms with NGC.
Aphrodite was discovered in 2022 and is expected to produce around 107 million cubic feet per day (MMscf/d). The field will be developed using existing infrastructure, with gas routed through the Dolphin A platform.
The agreement allows for the development of Aphrodite to resume, which could help restore available volumes for the industrial chain in Trinidad and Tobago. NGC acts as an aggregator, purchasing gas from producers to supply downstream customers, including the petrochemical industry and Atlantic LNG, in which Shell holds a 45% stake.
The recovery of Trinidad and Tobago gas supply also includes a regional dimension, with Shell and BP working on cross-border developments that could allow gas produced in Venezuela to be transported to Trinidad for processing and export. This demonstrates the strategic value that gas projects between Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago are gaining within the Caribbean energy landscape.