Shell cuts Nigeria oil output after attack

ABUJA (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) said on Thursday some oil production had been halted following an attack on one of its pipelines on Wednesday in Bayelsa state in Nigeria's Niger Delta.

"(Shell's) SPDC joint venture can confirm the Trans Ramos pipeline at Aghoro-2 community in Bayelsa state was attacked last night (June 17)," the company said in a statement.

"Some oil production has been shut in to avoid potential environmental impact," it said, without giving further details.

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) late on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the attack, the first outside Delta state since the military last month launched its biggest offensive against rebels in years.

MEND, which has declared an "all-out war" against the military, said the damaged pipeline was connected to the Tunu, Opukusu and Ugbotubu flow stations, which feeds into the Forcados export terminal.

Earlier on Wednesday Shell extended a force majeure on its Forcados shipments for the rest of June and all of July as pipeline repairs have yet to be completed from an attack three months ago.

(Reporting by Nick Tattersall and Randy Fabi; editing by Sue Thomas)