SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts discontinues publishing Vityaz crude prices from Jan 4

As previously announced, Platts will discontinue publishing the price of Vityaz crude from Monday, January 4, 2016 after it began publishing the assessment under the name 'Sakhalin Blend' from May 4, 2015.

The Sakhalin Blend assessment is identical to, and was being published alongside, Vityaz crude assessment.

The new Sakhalin Blend assessment and associated code would carry the historical data for the Vityaz assessment.

The change in name would not alter any other aspects of Platts assessment of the Russian crude.

The proposed change ensures Platts assessments and terminology conform with the latest market conventions.

Platts understands that Sakhalin Energy, the operator of the Sakhalin-2 offshore project in Russia's Far East, has replaced its Vityaz crude grade with the Sakhalin Blend starting from December 2014.

The official trade name of the crude associated with production from Sakhalin-2 offshore project and other entities is Sakhalin Blend.

Please send all further comments, feedback and questions to asia_crude@platts.com and pricegroup@platts.com.

For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing.

Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.

Sakhalin Blend assessment is published in Platts Global Alert on pages 2214 and 2215; and in Platts Oilgram Price Report, Platts Crude Oil Marketwire, and Platts Asia Pacific/Arab Gulf Marketscan.

The assessment is found under the following codes: AAREN00, AARBN00, AARDN00, AARCN00, and AAREN03, AARBN03, AARDN03, AARCN03 for the monthly averages.