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Pipeline explosion leads to Shell force majeure

By on October 11, 2011

An explosion at a pipeline in Nigeria has led Shell to declare force majeure on some crude oil exports from the country for almost three months.

The Anglo-Dutch supermajor was informed of a leak on the Trans Forcados pipeline on 6 October but it is unclear when the explosion occurred.

The force majeure came into effect at noon local time on Monday and is expected to remain in force through the remainder of 2011.

A statement from Shell said a Nigerian investigation “found that [the leak] was caused by explosive damage”.

Shell Petroleum Development Company, the company’s offshoot in Nigeria, “is working to repair the pipeline and resume production as quickly as possible,” the statement continued.

There are not believed to have been any casualties or injuries as a result of the blast which is understood to have affected the pipeline at a single location. The amount of oil spilled is currently unknown.

There was better news for the supermajor on Monday, however, as it lifted an earlier force majeure measure put in plan on Bonny Light crude exports on 23 August following a rash of sabotage attacks.

Originally Shell intended to have that measure in place until the end of the month before removing it on Monday.

As one of oil majors with the largest presence in Nigeria, Shell is involved in a constant battle against sabotage on its networks which frequently lead to spill and declarations of force majeure.