Oil prices were lower in Asian trade today but falls were limited by a sharp decline in US petrol stocks.
New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December, eased three cents to $81.91 a barrel and Brent North Sea crude for December was down 12 cents at $83.11.
Oil markets were digesting data from the US Department of Energy - issued yesterday - which showed a jump in crude stockpiles against a slump in petrol inventories.
Crude inventories rose five million barrels in the week ended October 22, far higher than market expectations for a modest gain of 700,000 barrels. But petrol stockpiles tumbled 4.4 million barrels against expectations for a 200,000-barrel decline.
