Output of the four key North Sea crude oils -- Brent, Forties, Oseberg and Ekofisk -- will rise to a seven-month high of 911,290 b/d in December, up 111,290 b/d from September, said traders Tuesday.
This marks a return to more typical production figures for the four crude blends after a period of field maintenance in the North Sea.
Forties, which fell below Ekofisk liftings for the first time in three years in September-October, will load 387,097 b/d in December after its largest contributor, the Buzzard field, returned from almost two months of planned maintenance last week.
A one-month delay in restarting the field has meant four November-loading Forties cargoes were deferred into the December program, said traders.
Brent loadings, at 135,484 b/d, will also be larger than November's 120,000 b/d, while Oseberg liftings will rise by 15,484 b/d to 135,484 b/d.
Ekofisk will also see larger production in December, at 253,226 b/d, following output problems in October that forced the deferral of three November cargoes into the December program.
Scheduled loadings in b/d:
Grade December November change
Brent 135,484 120,000 +15,484
Forties 387,097 360,000 +27,097
Oseberg 135,484 120,000 +15,484
Ekofisk 253,226 200,000 +53,226
Total 911,290 800,000 +111,290
