The annual volume of the global gas trade is expected to increase from around 1,000bn m3 currently to 1,650bn m3 by 2040; an absolute growth of 65%.

Benchmark Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were trading up 56 cents, or 1 percent, at $55.48 a barrel at 1329 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 were up 29 cents at $52.41 a barrel, not far off a one-week high of $52.52.

Россия сегодня добывает больше 11 млн барр. в сутки, мы очень крупный игрок среди стран-производителей, поэтому без нас сегодня практически невозможен процесс регулирования нефтяных рынков. Мы пошли на договоренности по снижению добычи, потому что это даст положительный результат и для бюджета, и для нефтяных компаний, поможет стабилизировать ситуацию в целом. Раньше они балансировали рынок самостоятельно, но в настоящий момент вряд ли страны ОПЕК приняли бы решение о сокращении добычи без нас. В этот раз для ОПЕК было важно участие в сокращении добычи и других стран-производителей, чтобы достичь желаемого эффекта.

But for all the talk of trade barriers, oil prices rising on supply cuts, and planned U.S. tax cuts and infrastructure spending, the global inflation outlook hasn't changed much, even if the Fed is sounding more worried about it.

Brent crude futures were trading at $54.02 per barrel at 0808 GMT, flat from its last settlement. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was down 2 cents at $50.88 per barrel.

The U.S. current account deficit decreased to $113.0 billion (preliminary) in the third quarter of 2016 from $118.3 billion (revised) in the second quarter of 2016, according to statistics released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The deficit decreased to 2.4 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) from 2.6 percent in the second quarter.

Oil production companies recorded positive earnings from their upstream (exploration and production) operations in the third quarter of 2016 for the first time since the fourth quarter of 2014.

Iran's crude oil exports in December are set to fall 8 percent from November to a five-month low, a source with knowledge of its preliminary tanker schedule said, as lower shipments to China and others in Asia offset bumper exports to Europe.

December 2016 U.S. oil production will down 20 tbd, gas production will down 94 mcfd.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose 4.27% to $56.67 a barrel on London’s ICE Futures exchange. On the New York Mercantile Exchange, West Texas Intermediate futures were trading up 4.80% at $53.95 a barrel.

Brent crude for February delivery LCOc1 was up 12 cents at $54.01 a barrel by 0752 GMT, after rising 1.7 percent on Thursday. The contract hit its highest since July 2015 at $55.33 on Monday. U.S. crude for January delivery CLc1 was up 32 cents at $51.16 a barrel. Both contracts have lost nearly 1 percent so far this week.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) today announced a $19.8 billion capital and exploratory investment program for 2017. Included in the 2017 program are $4.7 billion of planned affiliate expenditures.

North Sea Brent crude was up 25 cents at $53.25 a barrel by 0940 GMT. U.S. light crude was up 20 cents at $49.97 a barrel.

North Sea Brent crude oil LCOc1 was up 10 cents a barrel at $54.03 by 0950 GMT. U.S. light crude CLc1 was up 15 cents at $51.08 a barrel.

EIA forecasts Brent crude oil prices to average $43 per barrel (b) in 2016 and $52/b in 2017. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices are forecast to average about $1/b less than Brent prices in 2017. The values of futures and options contracts indicate significant uncertainty in the price outlook.