03:38 PM EDT, 04/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Energy stocks were higher late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index and Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) each adding 1.2%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index increased 0.6%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index climbed 1.4%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained 1% to $83.55 a barrel, while global benchmark Brent added 0.3% to $87.38 a barrel. Henry Hub natural-gas futures eased 0.1% to $1.76 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Valero Energy ( VLO ) and Chevron ( CVX ) are set to buy oil transported through Canada's Trans Mountain pipeline system for their refineries in California, Bloomberg reported Friday. Valero shares rose 0.7% while Chevron ( CVX ) gained 1.6%.

Fluor (FLR) said Friday that the Braya renewable fuels project in Canada began production. Its shares were shedding 0.4%.

UGI's (UGI) propane distribution unit AmeriGas is a potential target for investment by a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil, Bloomberg reported Friday. UGI shares jumped 7.4%.

Schlumberger ( SLB ) fiscal Q1 non-GAAP earnings and revenue matched estimates by analysts as double-digit international revenue growth helped counter softness in North America. The shares dropped 2.1%.