09:22 AM EDT, 07/03/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were edging higher premarket Wednesday, with the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund ( XLE ) up 0.1%.

The United States Oil Fund ( USO ) was 0.1% higher and the United States Natural Gas Fund ( UNG ) was down 0.9%.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.3% at $83.06 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil gained 0.3% to reach $86.48 per barrel, and natural gas futures were up 0.3% at $2.44 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Kosmos Energy ( KOS ) stock was up over 1% after the company said it has begun oil production at its Winterfell development in the Green Canyon area of the US Gulf of Mexico.

Schlumberger ( SLB ) and ChampionX ( CHX ) received a request for additional information from the US Department of Justice related to its review of their planned transaction, Schlumberger ( SLB ) said. Schlumberger ( SLB ) shares were 0.7% higher pre-bell.

CVR Energy ( CVI ) is looking to acquire shares in the parent of Citgo Petroleum and has submitted a binding offer in an ongoing auction, Reuters reported, citing three unnamed sources familiar with the matter. CVR Energy ( CVI ) stock was up 0.2% premarket.