Militant attacks have cut Nigerian oil output by half a million bpd

Reuters

LONDON/LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria's oil production has fallen by at least half a million barrels per day (bpd), Reuters calculations show, because of militant attacks in the Niger Delta region, most claimed by a new group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers. The group has made multiple attacks on infrastructure belonging to oil majors Shell, ENI and Chevron, vowing to reduce output to zero in what is typically Africa's largest oil exporter. President Muhammadu Buhari cancelled a planned visit to the region last week, which some observers said was a missed opportunity to calm tensions in a region that accounts for a large portion of Nigeria's oil production. The attacks have forced companies to declare force majeure on Bonny Light, Brass River and Forcados crude oil, and in May helped to push Nigeria's oil production to 22-year lows. ExxonMobil's force majeure on Qua Iboe -- declared after an accident -- was lifted on June 3. State oil company NNPC's spokesman Garba Deen Muhammad said Nigeria's production had not dropped below 1 million bpd. "Our position before the attacks was 2.2 million bpd, but the attacks have affected production to the tune of about 600,000 to 700,000 barrels, so our current production level is hovering around 1.6 million bpd," Muhammad said. Below is a table listing all Nigerian grades and outlining those affected by pipeline disruption and militancy, based on information from the companies, oil traders, Nigeria's oil minister and Reuters estimates. Grade Typical Issue Production Expected exports impact on export (bpd) field impact in (bpd) June(bpd) Abo 23,000 Agbami 228,000 Amenam 65,000 Antan 32,000 Bonga 190,000 Workers No clear None evacuated impact following militant threat Bonny 200,000 FORCE MAJEURE 170,000 170,000 Light - pipeline total, blast closed 75,000 from Nembe Creek Aiteo, Trunk line remainder from other companies Brass 120,000 Force majeure 65,000 65,000 River and several (13,000 of attacks on which is ENI pipelines equity stake) EA 32,000 Ebok 31,000 Erha 129,000 Escravos 160,000 DECREASED 35,000, 35,000- PRODUCTION - according 65,000, spill to field loading following operator delays of militant Chevron, 10-15 days attack, 65,000 additional according attack on two to traders wells Forcados 250,000- FORCE MAJEURE 250,000- 250,000-300, 300,000 - militants 300,000 000, June attacked pipeline subsea reopening pipeline in likely February and postponed again in June Okono 27,000 Okwori 22,000 Oyo 21,000 Pennington 32,000 Qua Iboe 320,000 Force majeure minimal Loading lifted after impact - programmes repairs production pushed back following a now back with delays drilling rig to 250,000 of around that damaged a - 300,000 15-20 days pipeline Usan 67,000 Yoho 63,000 Total 2 520,000- 520,000- million 600,000 600,000 (Reporting by Libby George, Julia Payne and Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by David Goodman)