LONDON (Reuters) - Exports of Nigeria's Forcados crude oil have been delayed by about five days, trading sources said on Tuesday, due to damage to pipelines caused by suspected oil theft.
Royal Dutch Shell on Monday said its Nigerian venture had declared force majeure on exports of Nigeria's Forcados and Bonny crudes, two of the larger crude oil streams pumped by Africa's biggest producer.
Traders said there had so far been little additional impact on exports of Bonny because production of that grade has already been reduced for some weeks, allowing loading schedules to be tweaked.
"I have not heard anything on Bonny - I think Shell was trying to manage it by minimizing cargoes," a trade source said. "Obviously, with a force majeure in place, there is a higher probability of cargo delays."
On September 30, Shell said its Nigerian unit closed the Bonny pipeline which sends crude to the Bonny export terminal and stopped 150,000 barrels per day of production after oil thieves caused a fire.
A Shell spokesman said on Tuesday the company does not comment on loading schedules.
