Shell declares force majeure on Forcados oil export

SHELL Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) yesterday said it had declared force majeure on Forcados oil export following disruption in production caused by the spill on the subsea crude export pipeline.

The Media Relations Manager, SPDC, Precious Okolobo, who confirmed this yesterday, said the force majeure was effective 1500hrs (Nigerian time) February 21, 2016.

Meanwhile, he said the SPDC is intensifying efforts on containment and oil recovery while also finalising repair plans.

Although he did not state the quantity of the oil shut-in, but Forcados terminal is one of Nigeria’s biggest terminals with capacity to export 400,000 barrels a day.

The oil recovery, according to Okolobo, is supported by industry group Clean Nigeria Associates (CNA) and other oil companies, adding that Shell has deployed specialised equipment to contain the spill.

SPDC, he said, has also mobilised clean-up teams and contracted a specialised aircraft to join in the response. Production into the terminal and crude oil exports were stopped soon after the spill was discovered.