North Sea Crude-Diffs steady, Ekofisk holds near three-month highs

LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) -

* North Sea crude oil differentials were unchanged on Wednesday, following a busy session in which most activity was in the region's lighter, sweeter crudes.

* With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) gasoline refining margins in northwest Europe at their highest in nearly three months, diffs for Ekofisk have risen to their strongest since June this year, while Oseberg diffs have reached their highest since July.

* In flows, Reuters shipping data showed Glencore (Frankfurt: 8GC.F - news) has chartered a VLCC to load at Hound Point in early October and sail to South Korea. The lists show Glencore's shipping arm has booked the Miltiadis Junior to load on Oct (HKSE: 3366-OL.HK - news) . 2.

* Chevron (Euronext: CHTEX.NX - news) has booked the suezmax Decathlon to load a Norwegian crude at Mongstad and travel to South Africa's Saldanha Bay.

WINDOW SUMMARY

* BP sold Petroineos a cargo of Forties loading Oct. 4-6 at a premium of 35 cents to dated Brent.

* Vitol offered a cargo of Forties for loading via STS at Scapa Flow from the Marbat at a premium of 20 cents to dated Brent on Sept. 24-29.

* Glencore bid for a cargo of Forties for loading Oct. 4-8 at a premium of 35 cents to dated Brent.

OSEBERG/EKOFISK

* Statoil (LSE: 0M2Z.L - news) sold BP a cargo of Oseberg for loading Oct. 9-11 at a premium of $1 to dated Brent.

* BP withdrew a bid for a cargo of Oseberg loading Oct. 5-7 at $1.05 above the dated price.

* Socar offered a cargo of Ekofisk for loading Oct. 13-15 at a premium of 70 cents to dated Brent.

* Vitol offered a cargo of Ekofisk for loading Sept. 27-29 at a premium of 55 cents to dated Brent.

* Glencore bid for a cargo of Ekofisk for loading Oct. 5-9 at 60 cents above the dated price and for a second loading Sept. 25-Oct. 2 at 50 cents above dated.

* Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) bid for one cargo of Ekofisk for loading Oct. 13-15 at 60 cents above dated Brent and for a second loading Sept. 26-30 at 50 cents above dated Brent.

* The quality premium for October-loading cargoes of Ekofisk is 32 cents a barrel, meaning Ekofisk is the lowest-price crude and therefore sets the level of dated Brent. (Reporting by Amanda Cooper; editing by David Clarke)