“We estimate production costs for the Russian Arctic offshore in the range of $70 to $100 a barrel,” Energy Minister Alexander Novak said by email. These reserves “are our backup stock,” he said before the International Arctic Forum in Russia’s Arkhangelsk that began Wednesday.

Benchmark Brent crude futures fell by 33 cents, or 0.65 percent, from their last close to $50.47 per barrel by 0653 GMT. In the United States, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 41 cents, or 0.85 percent, at $47.56 a barrel.

Первое, что я хочу сказать: у нас такая возможность предусмотрена самим соглашением. Есть отдельный пункт, в котором говорится, что оно может быть продлено на срок до 6 месяцев. Второе: сегодня ещё конец марта. Мы ещё не перешагнули экватор. Обмен мнениями, который состоялся среди министров, и предложение, которое прозвучало, — означают возможность всем странам изучить этот вопрос до следующей министерской встречи; дать поручения секретариату ОПЕК с тем, чтобы секретариат провёл дополнительный анализ ситуации на рынке, которая будет складываться с января по апрель; дать прогнозы исполнения в мае, в июне и на второе полугодие.

"This reaffirms the commitment of OPEC and participating non-OPEC countries to continue to cooperate," the statement said.

Barclays Commodities Research said its analysts still believe oil prices could rise to $60/bbl in the second quarter assuming inventory draws and the OPEC production cut remains in place. “However, this would likely be temporary, and we forecast prices in the mid $50s/bbl in the second half 2017,” Barclays said.

Benchmark Brent crude futures LCOc1 were at $50.72 per barrel at 1255 GMT, up 16 cents from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were up 20 cents at $47.90 a barrel. Brent was heading for a weekly fall of around 2 percent, while WTI was off just over 1.8 percent.

Benchmark Brent crude was down 82 cents at $50.14 per barrel at 0936 GMT (5:36 a.m. ET), after dropping to $50.05, its lowest level since OPEC announced on Nov. 30 its plan for cuts. The deal with non-OPEC states was reached in December. U.S. light crude was down 70 cents at $47.54 a barrel, also slipping toward a three-month low.

Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil, was up 42 cents at $52.04 per barrel at 0907 GMT, rebounding from last week's three-month low of $50.25 but well below January's surge above $58 in the wake of the output cuts. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 38 cents to $48.60.

Средняя цена на нефть Urals за период мониторинга с 15 февраля по 14 марта 2017 года составила $52,25775 за баррель, или $381,5 за тонну. Согласно расчетам Минфина России экспортная пошлина на нефть в РФ с 1 апреля 2017 года понизится на $2,1 и составит $88,9 за тонну.

West Texas Intermediate for April delivery rose as much as 76 cents to $49.62 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at $49.41 at 10:08 a.m. in London. Total volume traded was in line with the 100-day average. Prices climbed $1.14 to close at $48.86 on Wednesday after falling almost 11 percent the previous seven sessions. Brent for May settlement advanced as much as 84 cents, or 1.6 percent, to $52.65 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Prices rose 89 cents to $51.81 on Wednesday. The global benchmark crude was at a premium of $2.48 to May WTI.