Norwegian oil workers began a wage strike today that will slice more than 10 per cent off output from the world's third biggest exporter to stoke already high world oil prices.
The government said it had no plans to invoke emergency powers to halt the stoppage by about 200 workers, called after talks with employers collapsed and affecting almost 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) of Norway's three million bpd output.
In London, Brent crude oil prices were up 24 cents at $36.45 a barrel, with the stroppage adding to worries about supplies after sabotage of key Iraqi pipelines halted Iraqi crude exports this week.
Norwegian oil and gas group Statoil said it had started closing the 240,000 bpd Snorre oilfield and the linked 75,000 bpd Vigdis field, the main platforms targeted by the strike.
ConocoPhillips said it was shutting 60,000 bpd of production at Ekofisk.
Exxon Mobil's Norwegian unit said it was continuing output at the 80,000 bpd Ringhorne platform, the only other field affected, for the time being but stopping new drilling and maintenance.