Brent fell 36 cents, or 0.4%, to $96.23 a barrel, WTI was at $90.29 a barrel, down 21 cents.

Russia's crude exports rose by 140,000 b/d on the month to average 3.36 million b/d from Aug 1-16 to remain above pre-war levels for the fifth month in a row,

Brent fell 84 cents, or 0.9%, to $94.26 a barrel, WTI dipped 45 cents, or 0.5%, to $88.96 a barrel.

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $100.04 a barrel

On the other hand, #BRENT has been clinging within the mid $90s/bbl range and having a price ceiling within the $101.35/bbl as the Tiltpoint.

Brent fell $1.14, or 1.2%, to $97.01 a barrel, WTI was at $91.03 a barrel, down $1.06, or 1.2%.

The price of OPEC basket of thirteen crudes stood at $103.20 a barrel

When Russia invaded Ukraine in March, things went from tightness of supply to impending disaster. Russia, through a complex network of pipelines, is the principal supplier of natural gas to Europe and all petroleum products to Germany. Now it has curtailed normal flows.

Berlin is already under serious pressure after Russia cut flows through Nord Stream 1, the key connector with Europe, which is currently running at just 20 per cent capacity.

"Russia needs official confirmation that this and other turbines, which require routine maintenance and repair, will not fall under the sanctions of the EU, Canada and the UK," it said.