Iran is introducing a new contract framework for its energy deals to sweeten them for foreign financiers.

"Not only willing to cooperate with Zarubezhneft Company as investor in the fields, we are also calling for fully benefiting from their state of art technology,"

Total E&P Russie, a 100% affiliate of Total group, has transferred a 20% participating interest in and the operatorship of the Production Sharing Agreement for the Development and Production of Oil in the Kharyaga Field (Kharyaga PSA) to Zarubezhneft-Production Kharyaga LLC, a subsidiary of Zarubezhneft JSC.

However, in conjunction with both lower oil prices and international sanctions, Russia has recently experienced five consecutive quarters of decline in GDP, representing that country's deepest economic downturn since 2008-09.

Light, sweet crude for September delivery settled up $1.32, or 3.3%, at $40.83 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was the largest gain since July 12 and brought the U.S. benchmark within 16 cents of exiting bear-market territory. Brent, the global benchmark, gained $1.30, or 3.1%, to $43.10 a barrel, snapping a five-session losing streak.

Brent crude LCOc1 was up 27 cents a barrel at $42.07 at 0957 GMT (0557 EDT). It reached $41.51 on Tuesday, the lowest since April 18. U.S. crude CLc1 added 28 cents to $39.79.

Russian assets are under pressure as concerns resurface that the global oil market is over supplied. After rallying from a record low at the start of the year as crude rebounded, the ruble is the third-worst performer in emerging markets so far this quarter.

Nabors Industries Ltd. ("Nabors") (NYSE: NBR) today reported second quarter 2016 operating revenues of $571.6 million, compared to operating revenues of $597.6 million in the first quarter. Net income from continuing operations for the quarter was a loss of $186.6 million, or ($0.65) per diluted share, compared to a loss of $396.6 million, or ($1.41) per diluted share, last quarter. Net income from continuing operations for the second quarter includes a loss of $0.39 per share due to impairments and losses related to disposed businesses and assets. The largest component, totaling $0.34 per share, is comprised of an impairment to the carrying value of the Company's investment in C&J Energy Services Ltd. ("C&J") and its proportionate share of C&J losses from the prior quarter. In addition, the second quarter benefitted from the renegotiation of two contracts, as well as early termination revenue that improved reported net income by $24.1 million or $0.09 per share.

Progress will be slow. The crude glut will take a long time to dissipate, meaning only gradual price gains, said Michael Hsueh, a strategist at Deutsche Bank AG. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. benchmark, will average $49.50 in the fourth quarter before breaking decisively above $50 next year, the analysts say.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was at $40.15 a barrel at 0433 GMT (12:33 a.m. ET) , up 9 cents from its last close after dipping below $40 for the first time since April the previous session. International Brent crude oil futures were trading at $42.34 per barrel, up 20 cents from their last close.