“Oil rebounded from the lowest level in 10 weeks as traders speculated recent declines may have been excessive, while a North Sea pipeline system remained shut after a platform leak.
West Texas Intermediate advanced as much as 0.6 percent, and Brent futures as much as 0.9 percent. The Brent pipeline system was closed for a fourth day after an oil leak was discovered March 2 on the Cormorant Alpha platform, according to Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. (TAQA)PJSC, the operator known as Taqa. U.S. crude stockpiles probably increased for a seventh week, the longest stretch since May, a Bloomberg News survey showed before Energy Department data tomorrow.
“It’s worth keeping an eye on developments at Cormorant Alpha since any prolonged disruption in the North Sea would support Brent,” said Andrey Kryuchenkov, an analyst at VTB Capital inLondon who predicts that Brent will trade in a range of $109 to $112 a barrel this month.
WTI for April delivery rose as much as 58 cents to $90.70 a barrel in electronic trading on theNew York Mercantile Exchange and was at $90.37 at 12:21 p.m. London time. The volume of all futures traded was 24 percent below the 100-day average. The contract fell 56 cents to $90.12 yesterday, the lowest close since Dec. 24.
Brent for April settlement on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange gained as much as 97 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $111.06 a barrel. The volume of all futures traded was 49 percent above the 100-day average. The European benchmark grade was at a $20.27 premium to WTI, widening for a fourth day.
