BUENOS AIRES, March 7 (Reuters) - Argentina's national

oil company YPF on Thursday said it would invest $3

billion of a $5 billion capital spending plan this year in

shale, as it looks to generate more cash by exiting some major

conventional fields.

"We plan to exit from some of our mature conventional

fields, but will release around $800 million in capital

expenditure to be reallocated primarily to shale oil activity,"

CEO Horacio Marin told analysts in a call, saying the company

was seeking a "clean exit" and expected to close transactions

this year.

The company had previously said it would exit from some

55 conventional mature blocks as it looks to focus on its more

profitable shale operations.

By 2025, Marin said he expects shale oil output to reach

160,000 barrels per day after boosting production 24% in 2024

and a further 35% the following year. By 2027, the company could

produce some 250,000 barrels per day, he said.

YPF operates Argentina's massive Vaca Muerta shale

formation, one of the biggest in the world, which it hopes can

help the country boost production to eventually become a net

energy exporter and replenish the country's foreign reserves.

The call with analysts came a day after YPF posted

quarterly results that swung to a net loss of $1.86 billion in

the fourth quarter, driven largely by weaker sales and a hefty

impairment charge while its production increased.