Energy stocks were lower Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index down 0.7% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) shedding 0.9%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was falling 2.3%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was fractionally higher.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil shed 0.8% to $88.77 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract increased 0.1% to $100.72 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures rose 2.9% to $3.21 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Hess Midstream (HESM) shares tumbled 15% after Chevron (CVX) said late Tuesday it will divest its ownership interests and general partner position in Hess, along with its DJ Basin crude oil midstream assets, in exchange for extended and improved Bakken midstream commercial terms and $200 million in cash. Chevron shares were down 1.1%.