North Sea Crude-Forties diffs fall, dented by unsold barrels

(Corrects grade used to assess dated Brent in para 12)

LONDON, June 16 (Reuters) - * Forties differentials fell on Thursday to their lowest level since early May, as an overhang of unwanted crude continued to drag on the market.

* Total (LSE: 524773.L - news) once again offered barrels from the Maran Thetis via ship-to-ship transfer (STS) but was unable to find a buyer.

* The French port and oil refinery strikes are mostly over, following nearly four weeks of disruptions, which should theoretically provide some support for crude diffs.

* Reuters trade flows data shows no North Sea crude has discharged in France since May 20.

* There are, as yet, no fixtures for July-loading cargoes of Forties bound for Asia. So far this month, some 6 million barrels have loaded and sailed, with another 2 million due to load this week onto the VLCC Sara, chartered by Shell (LSE: RDSB.L - news) .

* Of the 22 million barrels of Forties that have loaded and sailed for Asia this year, Shell has moved 14 million barrels. At this point last year, Shell had moved just 2 million out of the 20 million of Forties that sailed to Asia.

WINDOW SUMMARY:

* Total offered a cargo of Forties for loading Jun 26-30 via STS at Scapa Flow from the Maran Thetis at a discount of $1.55 to the August cash BFOE price.

* Total offered a second cargo of Forties for loading July 1-5 via STS from Scapa Flow from the Maran Thetis at a discount of $1.40 to the August cash BFOE price.

* Total offered a cargo of Ekofisk for loading July 13-15 at a premium of 25 cents to dated Brent. The grade had traded on Thursday at dated Brent minus 20 cents. (QP 60 cents)

* Statoil (LSE: 0M2Z.L - news) withdrew an offer for a cargo of Forties for loading July 3-5 at a discount of 45 cents to dated Brent.

* Ekofisk remains the lowest-priced crude and therefore set the price of dated Brent. (Reporting by Amanda Cooper; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Alexander Smith)