SUBSCRIBER NOTE: Platts proposes Das Blend crude assessment, phase-out of Lower Zakum, Umm Shaif

Platts is seeking feedback on a proposal to start assessing Abu Dhabi's new Das Blend crude, and at the same time phase out existing assessments for Lower Zakum and Umm Shaif crudes, which are expected to be combined to form the new blended crude. Abu Dhabi is expected to begin exports of Das Blend late in the second quarter of 2014. It is expected to have a production rate of around 630,000 b/d with an API of around 39 degrees. Because Das Blend will be a blend of Lower Zakum and Umm Shaif crude grades, Platts proposes to discontinue its assessments for Lower Zakum and Umm Shaif crude grades shortly after the new Das Blend crude assessment is launched. Under this proposal, Platts would launch assessments for Das Blend on or near May 1, for July-loading cargoes. It would run Lower Zakum and Umm Shaif assessments alongside Das Blend for a period of time, extrapolating value using prevailing differentials for the crude prior to the new blend being introduced. Under this approach, Platts proposes to finally discontinue Lower Zakum and Umm Shaif assessments with effect from July 1, 2014. In addition, associated assessments for each of the grade will be discontinued including yields, netbacks, margins and monthly averages. These assessments are currently published on Platts Global Alert page 2220, 2222 and 1051, in the Crude Oil Marketwire and in the Platts assessment database under codes AAKNN00 and AAKUF00 for Lower Zakum daily assessments and AAIOT00 and AAILA00 for the monthly OSP of the grade. For Umm Shaif the daily assessments of the grade are codes AAOUO00 and AAOUP00, with AAIOU00 and AAILB00 for the monthly OSP of the grade. Please send feedback by April 30 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 to the public upon request.