Qatar Cuts April Al-Shaheen Crude Exports On Maintenance – Sources

Qatar has reduced exports of al-Shaheen crude in April by 40,000 barrels per day (bpd) due to partial maintenance at the offshore oilfield, trade sources said on Monday.

The number of 600,000-barrel cargoes scheduled to load in April has fallen to 13, two less than March, the sources said.

Qatar Petroleum, which operates the al-Shaheen oilfield under an exploration and production sharing agreement with Maersk Oil, a unit of A.P. Moller-Maersk, could not be immediately reached for comment.

The fall in supply offsets weaker demand in Asia for crude loading in April and kept April al-Shaheen premiums at similar levels compared with March. Several refineries across Asia are scheduled to shut for regular maintenance in the second quarter.

The field is producing at 300,000-310,000 bpd, according to the websites for Qatar Petroleum and Maersk.