BP to cut Thunder Horse output by half -source

LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) - Oil major BP Plc (BP.L) will cut production at its 250,000 barrels of oil per day Thunder Horse platform in the Gulf of Mexico by half to facilitate planned maintenance, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The shutdown, which is likely to last weeks, will cut BP's total annual production by about 10,000 barrels of oil and gas equivalent per day in 2010, the source said.

One analyst said this made it more likely BP's output would fall this year.

BP declined comment.

Thunder Horse also produces up to 200 million cubic feet per day of natural gas.

The maintenance involves work to undersea manifolds.

BP shares were up 1 percent at 0823 GMT, lagging a 1.5 pct rise in the STOXX Europe 600 Oil and Gas index .SXEP. (Reporting by Tom Bergin; Editing by Mike Nesbit)