New York — The crude complex settled higher Wednesday after US government data showed 

a 2.57 million-barrel decline in the nation's crude stocks despite lower demand from domestic 

refineries. 

ICE October Brent crude futures settled up $1.19/b at $77.14/b, while the NYMEX October 

light sweet crude contract settled 98 cents/b higher at $69.26/b. 

Crude inventories along the US Atlantic and US West Coast bore the brunt of the US crude 

stock decline, shedding 2.9 million barrels and 1 million barrels to 11.6 million barrels and 49 

million barrels, respectively, for the week ended August 24, Energy Information Administration 

data showed. 

USAC crude stocks fell on a decline in imports to 340,000 b/d from the 668,000 b/d in the 

week earlier, in preparation for planned work at area refineries. 

This includes planned work at Monroe Energy's 190,000 b/d Trainer, Pennsylvania, refinery 

scheduled for after the Labor Day weekend holiday. 

USAC refiners were operating at 88.2% of capacity last week, down from 88.6% the prior 

week, the EIA data showed. 

Lower USAC rates were partly due to Phillips 66's 238,000 b/d Bayway, New Jersey, plant 

operating at reduced rates since August 10 because of a problem with its 145,000 b/d FC

CU. 

USWC refinery operations experienced some slight disruption last week from Hurricane Lane, 

which travelled the eastern Pacific, slowing crude imports by 280,000 b/d to 1.081 million 

barrels. Par Petroleum, dependent on imports for 100% of its crude supply, shut its 93,500

 b/d Hawaii refinery Wednesday ahead of the storm, restarting it this weekend. 

Overall, USWC plants were operating at 98.4% of capacity, up from the 97.9% the week 

earlier as California refineries pulled on indigenous crudes to run their plants. Washington 

refineries raised rates of Alaska North Slope crude as the end of field maintenance pushed 

Alaskan production 33,000 b/d higher on the week to 462,000 b/d.