HOUSTON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - A US court on Thursday agreed

to delay the selection of a finalist in an auction that could

change the ownership of Citgo Petroleum, pushing back any sale

of the seventh-largest oil refiner until October.

Negotiators on Wednesday requested three additional weeks to

finalize discussions and set terms for the sale of shares in a

Citgo parent whose only asset is the Houston-based company. The

decision sets August 22 to disclose the court's recommendation

on bids for oil refiner Citgo, and sets October 15 as the date

to choose winner.