Energy stocks were higher Thursday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index rising 0.1% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) up 0.2%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was falling 1.7%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index added 0.9%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.7% to $91.61 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract increased 0.1% to $95.74 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures shed 0.1% to $2.95 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, BP (BP) has drawn interest from UK energy firm EnQuest regarding a potential purchase of its UK North Sea oil and gas operations, CNBC reported, citing an interview with EnQuest CEO Amjad Bseisu. BP shares were down 0.2%.