The Worldwide Rig Count for December was 1,834, down 56 from the 1,890 counted in November 2022,and up 271, from the 1,563 counted in December 2021.

Brent was up $1.63, or 2.1%, to $79.47 a barrel, WTI gained $1.41, or 1.9%, to $74.25.

Russia said Dec. 28 it will ban crude supplies to countries that observe the G7's $60/b price cap from Feb. 1 for five months. The retaliatory move, which applies at all stages of supply to the final buyer, had been widely flagged by Russia and expected by the global oil market.

Dutch front-month futures, the European gas benchmark traded 2% higher at to €66.30 per megawatt-hour by 12 p.m. in Amsterdam. The UK equivalent contract also rose. German power for next month increased 2.3% to €166 per megawatt-hour.

A frozen USA, with more than 200 million people under severe weather advisories or warnings caused nationwide problems in the run-up to Christmas.

Brent was up 22 cents, or 0.3%, at $84.14 a barrel, WTI gained 7 cents to $79.63.

The deals come as Japan’s government is reevaluating how it can enhance energy security in the face of a fuel crunch at home. Global LNG supply is slated to remain tight for years, which threatens to increase import costs and add to rising inflation.

How will the 55 GW of generation from coal, gas, and nuclear be replaced during weeks of wind-still winter in mid-century Germany?

U.S. Rig Count is up 3 from last week to 779, Canada Rig Count is down 103 from last week to 96

Brent rose 8 cents, or 0.1%, to $80.07 per barrel, WTI fell 1 cent to $76.22.