North Sea Crude-Forties diff firms on shorter programme, Ekofisk lower

LONDON: The differential for Forties firmed on a shorter July programme while the price for Ekofisk fell on a more ample schedule for the same month.

Supply of the four streams of North Sea crude that underpin the dated Brent benchmark will fall in July to the lowest this year, according to loading programmes seen by trading sources.

Norway's biggest oil workers' union reached a wage deal with offshore rig owners on Thursday, averting the risk of a strike that could have hit exploration efforts later this summer, the Industri Energi union said.

The Buzzard oilfield, the main contributor to Forties that also makes it more sour, will be partially down for maintenance in July.