Oil falls nearly 3pc as US Gulf production returns

NEW YORK: Oil fell nearly 3% a barrel on Thursday, weighed down by weakness in US equities markets and an expectation that crude output would rise in the Gulf of Mexico following last week's hurricane in the region.

Crude rose earlier in the session after Iran said it had seized a foreign tanker in the Gulf. Prices pulled back after it emerged that the vessel had only a small cargo and was detained on Sunday for fuel smuggling.

Prices were further weighed down after the US equities market opened lower. The S&P 500 opened lower by 5.55 points, or 0.2%, at 2,978.87.

Brent crude futures were down $1.76, or 2.8% at $61.91 a barrel by 12:26 p.m. EDT (1726 GMT), after earlier touching a session high of $64.46.

West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $1.64 a barrel, or 2.9% at $55.14, after earlier rising to as much as $57.32 a barrel.

US offshore oil and gas production has continued to return to service since Hurricane Barry passed through the Gulf of Mexico last week, triggering platform evacuations and output cuts. Royal Dutch Shell, a top Gulf producer, said Wednesday it had resumed about 80% of its average daily production in the region.

"You have people that were trying to ride the whole storm and a 9 million(-barrel) draw (in US crude inventories) that went with it last week," said Bob Yawger, director of energy at Mizuho in New York. "This week the situation has totally changed and everyone is trying to get out of the market."

The retreat from early session highs accelerated after each benchmark fell below yesterday's low, which had provided technical support, Yawger said.

Oil had fallen on Wednesday in response to a sharp rise in US stockpiles of products such as gasoline that pointed to weak demand during the US driving season.

Data from the US Energy Information Administration showed a larger-than-expected drawdown in crude stockpiles last week.

The summer driving season normally entails increased consumption of gasoline.

In addition to the US storm, tensions in the Middle East have dictated market moves in recent weeks.

"The oil price reaction on Thursday shows once again that the conflict in the Middle East is far from solved and tensions could flare up at any time," UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

"As oil keeps flowing, prices are likely to rise only temporarily," Staunovo added.

Britain pledged to defend its shipping interests in the region, and US Central Command chief General Kenneth McKenzie said the United States would work "aggressively" to enable free passage after recent attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf.

Iran said the vessel impounded was the one it towed on Sunday after the ship had sent a distress call. US officials said on Wednesday they were unsure whether an oil tanker towed into Iranian waters had been seized or rescued.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that shipping companies were hiring unarmed security guards for voyages through the Gulf.