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U.S. crude futures briefly crossed the critical $100 mark Wednesday, the first such move since October 2008, as escalating violence in Libya shook crude markets and extended supply worries.
In London, Brent crude futures rallied above $110 a barrel, posting the biggest three-day percentage gain in a year.
Between 300,000 and 400,000 barrels per day of Libyan output — up to 25 percent — has been shut down, according to Reuters calculations, marking the first cut in oil supplies related to the recent wave of anti-government unrest in North Africa and the Middle East.
After Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi vowed in a defiant speech on Tuesday that he would not step down, promising severe punishment to his detractors, analysts fear that long-lasting supply disruptions or even permanent damage lies ahead for the OPEC member's oil industry.
Traders were intently watching what top OPEC exporter Saudi Arabia will do, even as its oil minister has reiterated assurances the kingdom and other OPEC members would be ready to act should a supply shortfall develop.
"I don't think Libya alone will take us to $150 a barrel, but, if unrest spreads in the Gulf countries, we could easily get there. That is why it is imperative the Saudis release some extra barrels into the market now to calm the situation, rather than simply trying to talk the price down," said Edward Meir, an analyst at MF Global in New York.
In London, Brent crude
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[LCOCV1 Loading... () ] for April delivery was last more than $5 higher. Earlier, it touched a session high of $110.35, the highest since Sept. 2, 2008, when prices hit $110.45.
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In three days, the Brent contract has surged nearly $8, or 7.8 percent, the biggest three-day percentage advance since February 2010.
In New York, U.S. light sweet crude
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[CLCV1 Loading... () ] futures were last trading around $99.84, slightly off the $100 mark.
Since resuming trading on Tuesday, following a long holiday weekend, U.S. crude has advanced nearly $12, or nearly 14 percent, the biggest two-day percentage gain since January 2009.
Brent's premium against U.S. crude widened to as much as $12.84, after posting $10.36 at the close on Tuesday.
Traders were gearing up for U.S. weekly inventory data, the first of which will be released by the industry group American Petroleum Institute later Wednesday.
A Reuters poll forecast that U.S. crude stockpiles rose 1.3 million barrels last week, while distillate inventories fell 1.4 million barrels and gasoline supplies rose 400,000 barrels.
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