Energy stocks were lower Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index decreasing 0.4% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) down 0.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index was shedding 0.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index was up 0.3%.

US crude oil stocks, including those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, fell by 11.2 million barrels in the week ended June 13 following a decrease of 3.4 million barrels in the previous week. Excluding inventories in the SPR, commercial crude oil stocks fell by 11.5 million barrels after a 3.6 million barrel decline in the previous week, a larger drop than the 2.5 million barrel decrease expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg.

US natural gas stocks rose by 95 billion cubic feet in the week ended June 13, smaller than the 97 billion cubic foot increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following an increase of 109 billion cubic feet in the previous week.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was up 0.1% to $73.35 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was adding 0.1% to $76.50 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures were 3% higher at $3.97 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Marathon Petroleum (MPC) shares were retreating 0.8% after Evercore ISI started coverage of the stock with an in line rating and $170 price target.