Shell Lifts FM at Bonny Oil Terminal

Shell has lifted its force majeure on Bonny Light crude oil exports that was imposed August 12. 

A spokesman of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) said “SPDC lifted the force majeure on Bonny light exports effective noon (Nigerian Time) today, September 6 2016, following the re-opening of the Nembe Creek Trunk Line by the operator, Aiteo.” 

However Shell told Natural Gas World that its force majeure declared August 8 on its gas supplies to the Nigeria LNG export complex continues. Industry sources have estimated that exports out of Nigeria LNG are running at about half their normal level.

Bonny Light crude exports were subject to an earlier Shell force majeure (FM) during May and June 2016, while its Forcados crude terminal has been subject to a FM since February of this year although recent wire agency reports indicated it might be fully reopened this month.

The US Energy Information Adminstration said August 18 that shut-in crude oil reached 750,000 b/d in May 2016, its highest in over seven years.

Mark Smedley