Energy stocks declined pre-bell Thursday as the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) fell by 1.1% recently.

The United States Oil Fund (USO) was down 2.1% and the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.2% lower.

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil was down 2% at $61.88 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Global benchmark North Sea Brent crude oil lost 2% to $64.79 per barrel, and natural gas futures were 1.3% lower at $3.45 per 1 million British Thermal Units.

Eni (E) said it entered a period of exclusivity with Ares Alternative Credit Management to negotiate a definitive agreement for the sale of a 20% stake in Plenitude at an equity valuation of 9.8 billion ($10.98 billion) to 10.2 billion euros. Shares of Eni were 0.8% lower premarket.

Halliburton (HAL) and Rhino Resources said they delivered two exploration wells on block 2914 located within Petroleum Exploration License 85 offshore Namibia. Halliburton shares were down more than 1% pre-bell.

Enbridge (ENB) said it signed an agreement under which the Stonlasec8 Indigenous Alliance, which represents 36 First Nations in Canada's British Columbia, will invest 715 million Canadian dollars ($511.2 million) in its Westcoast natural gas pipeline system. Shares of Enbridge were down 0.1% premarket.