The force majeure, a technical release from honouring contracts, follows a pipeline leak that has cut oil output by 180,000 barrels per day in the Bonny oil production stream operated by Shell's Nigerian venture.
"There is a force majeure," one trader said. "The notice has gone out to the equity holders. It will obviously impact everything in July and August."
Shell has now cut a total of 653,000 bpd of Nigerian production, mostly due to militant attacks on its facilities.
