** Australian energy stocks .AXEJ drop as much as 1.2% to their lowest level since December 22, 2021
** Sub-index falls for a fourth straight session, down 6.7% so far in the week in what could be its biggest weekly drop since September 6
** Oil prices dropped below $70 per barrel this week amid planned output hike announced by major producers and higher-than-expected U.S. crude stockpiles O/R
** Oil and gas major Santos STO.AX skids as much as 1.6% on Friday to its lowest since September 2021, while Woodside Energy WDS.AX drops up to 1.1%
** Sub-index down 8.5% so far this year
(Reporting by Nichiket Sunil in Bengaluru)
((Nichiket.Sunil@thomsonreuters.com;))