Jan 9 (Reuters) - The discount on Western Canada Select

(WCS) heavy crude versus the North American benchmark West Texas

Intermediate (WTI) narrowed on Thursday:

* WCS for February delivery in Hardisty, Alberta, settled at

$12.20 a barrel under the WTI benchmark, according to brokerage

CalRock, having settled at $12.30 a barrel under the U.S.

benchmark on Wednesday.

* Canadian Natural Resources ( CNQ ) said on Thursday it

expects production to increase 12% and capital spending to rise

13.5% in 2025, as it bets on higher demand amid tight oil

supplies.

* Global oil prices rose more than 1% on Thursday as cold

weather gripped parts of the United States and Europe, boosting

winter fuel demand.