Energy stocks climbed late Friday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 1.5% and the Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLE) adding 1.6%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector index rose 1.6%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities index increased 0.9%.

West Texas Intermediate crude oil declined 1.6% to $58.27 a barrel, and global benchmark Brent dropped 1.4% to $61.29 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures jumped 5.2% to $3.66 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Chevron (CVX) Chief Executive Officer Mike Wirth said his company told Phillips 66 (PSX) that it's interested in acquiring its share of their 50-50 venture Chevron Phillips Chemical. Chevron shares rose 1.7%, and Phillips 66 gained 3.8%.

Shell (SHEL) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Friday of $0.92 per share, down from $1.20 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus of $0.82. Separately, Shell Chief Executive Wael Sawan prefers to repurchase more of the company's shares rather than launch a takeover bid for BP (BP), the Financial Times reported. Shell shares were rising 3.2% and BP was adding 0.7%.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) reported Q1 adjusted earnings Friday of $1.76 per share, down from $2.06 a year earlier but above the FactSet consensus estimate of $1.75. Revenue for the period was $83.13 billion, up from $83.08 billion a year ago but below the FactSet consensus of $86.35 billion. Exxon Mobil shares were up 0.6%.

Duke Energy (DUK) shares added 0.2% after it said Friday that Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe was named chief executive of Duke Energy Carolinas and head of its natural gas business unit, succeeding Julie Janson, who will retire on July 1.