(Reuters) -Shell is in early talks to buy rival BP, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Talks between company representatives are active and BP is considering the approach carefully, the report added.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Shell and BP did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Potential terms of any deal could not be learned and a tie-up is far from certain, the report said.

(Reporting by Prerna Bedi in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)