UK North Sea grade Brent/Ninian Blend has seen mass push-backs of cargo loading dates due to a production problem, traders said Thursday.
Shell equity cargo B0706, already deferred out of July to August 1-3, was heard moved to August 4-6 Thursday.
Total equity B0801 was deferred to Aug 8-10, Shell equity B0802 was moved to August 12-14, Total equity B0803 was moved to August 16-18, and Total equity B0806 was moved back to August 26-28, said traders.
"Even an end-July cargo cannot load before the end of July, so I guess a loss of production," said one trader.
Each cargo is 600,000 barrels.
It was not immediately clear which part of the Brent system had caused the disruption. Spokesmen for Shell and Taqa were not aware of any problems.
Brent/Ninian Blend is one of the four North Sea crude grades that go into the Dated Brent benchmark.
