North Sea Crude-Forties broadly steady; offers surface from floating storage

LONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - North Sea Forties crude differentials were virtually unchanged on Tuesday, after the boost from anticipated flows to Asia next month was offset by another slew of offers of oil from floating storage that struggled to attract any buyers.

* Vitol and Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) once again offered cargoes from vessels anchored in the North Sea, but at levels above the current differential.

* Three VLCCs are scheduled to load Forties in the first two weeks of December to sail to South Korea, according to Reuters shipping data.

* The Brent Pipeline System, which carries 83,000 barrels per day of the crude to the Sullom Voe terminal in the Shetland Islands, will shut down for three weeks for planned maintenance from Nov. 22, operator TAQA said on Monday.

WINDOW SUMMARY

* Shell sold to Total (LSE: 524773.L - news) a cargo of Forties for loading Dec. 6-8 via STS at Scapa Flow from the NS Arctic at a discount of $1.60 to the cash January BFOE price.

* Mercuria bid for a cargo of Forties for loading Dec. 6-11 at a discount of 75 cents to the dated Brent price.

* Vitol withdrew an offer for a cargo of Brent for loading Dec. 2-5 via STS at Scapa Flow from the aframax Hildegaard at a discount of 35 cents to dated Brent.

* Shell withdrew an offer for a cargo of Forties for loading Dec. 9-14 via STS at Scapa Flow from the NS Arctic at a discount of $1.35 to the cash January BFOE price.

* Vitol offered a cargo of Forties for loading Dec. 2-5 via STS at Scapa Flow from the Dubai Charm at a discount of 55 cents to the dated Brent price. (Reporting by Amanda Cooper; Editing by David Evans)