Royal Dutch Shell Suspends Production on Two Offshore Oil and Gas Platforms

By Neanda Salvaterra

Royal Dutch Shell PLC said on Tuesday it has suspended production on two offshore oil and gas platforms following the shutdown of a major European oil transport node.

The British-Dutch oil giant confirmed that it has halted the flow of oil and gas from its Shearwater and Nelson platforms in the central North Sea as a result of the shutdown of the Forties Pipeline System owned by Ineos, a refining and chemicals company.

Ineos closed down the Forties Pipeline after a hairline crack worsened following its discovery Wednesday, south of Aberdeen, Scotland.

The company said pipeline repairs could take a "matter of weeks," during which Forties would remain out of commission.

The Forties Pipeline System carries about 445,000 barrels of crude a day through the North Sea, some of which is used to create the benchmark crude price known as Brent.

"We are working closely with the pipeline system operator, Ineos to assess the situation," said a spokesman for Shell.

Shell is one of several big firms that has been affected by the Forties closure.

Chevron North Sea Limited said on Tuesday that production has been halted on two of its gas-producing platforms in the North Sea, while BP PLC said Monday that it was temporarily shutting down production in three hubs at the request of Ineos.

Write to Neanda Salvaterra at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 12, 2017 12:43 ET (17:43 GMT)

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