Jan 10 (Reuters) - U.S. shale producer Occidental

Petroleum ( OXY ) said the prices received for oil production

during the fourth quarter were lower than the preceding three

months, as global demand for the commodity weakened.

Crude prices declined about 6% in the quarter ended

Dec. 31 from the prior three months, and fell nearly 12% from a

year ago.

Occidental said its realized price was $69.73 a barrel,

compared with $75.33 per barrel during the third quarter.

However, the producer reported higher prices for its

total natural gas output, amid a 30% rise in U.S. natural gas

prices.

For the fourth quarter, Occidental's average realized

prices were $1.41 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) for its total

natural gas production. In the preceding quarter, it was 70

cents per Mcf.

(Reporting by Vallari Srivastava in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim

Zahid and Devika Syamnath)