* Dollar strength keeps oil price curbed * China premier says to tame price rises * Coming up: EIA oil data at 10:30 a.m. EST NEW YORK, Nov 17 (Reuters) - U.S. crude oil futures prices edged lower on Wednesday as the dollar's strength amid euro zone debt woes and expectations that China will act to cool inflation curbed oil demand. Crude oil prices slipped even after industry group American Petroleum Institute's weekly inventory report late Tuesday showed crude stocks fell 7.7 million barrels last week. [API/S] [ID:nEAP104G00] Gasoline stocks fell 1.7 million barrels, but distillates rose 222,000 barrels, according to the API. A Reuters analyst survey ahead of the report yielded a forecast for U.S. crude stockpiles to be up, though only by 100,000 barrels. [EIA/S] Distillate stocks were expected to be down 2.2 million barrels and gasoline stocks were estimated to have slipped 800,000 barrels. The U.S. Energy Information Administration will release its weekly report Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT). FUNDAMENTALS * On the New York Mercantile Exchange, December crude CLZ0 fell 23 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $82.11 a barrel at 8:24 a.m. EST, having traded as low as $81.18. The intraday peak was $82.67. * Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has said his government is preparing steps to tame price rises, adding his voice to official efforts to reassure consumers irked by a rapid rise in the price of food. [ID:nTOE6AF086] * Ireland committed itself to working with a European Union-IMF mission on urgent steps to help its stricken banking sector, a process that could lead to a bailout despite Dublin's deep reluctance. [ID:nLDE6AG004] * Brazilian state oil company Petrobras (PETR4.SA) could sell off foreign refining assets as it seeks to focus on Brazil's giant offshore crude reserves, the company's chief executive told a local newspaper. [ID:nN17173872] MARKETS NEWS * The euro traded near seven-week lows against the dollar, hobbled by the lack of a clear solution to Ireland's debt crisis, while high-yielding currencies consolidated, while remaining vulnerable to the unwinding of risk trades. [USD/] * World stocks struggled amid worries that China would raise its interest rates further, against the backdrop of debt jitters. [MKTS/GLOB] * Copper retreated to its lowest level in nearly two months as euro zone debt concerns sent investors fleeing from risk and as speculation mounted that top consumer China might raise interest rates. [MET/L] * Gold steadied in European trade as the dollar retreated after advancing to a seven-week peak. [GOL/] UPCOMING DATA/EVENTS * U.S. Energy Information Administration oil inventory report at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) on Wednesday. * NYMEX December crude contract expiration on Friday. 8:24 LAST NET PCT LOW HIGH CURRENT DAY AGO CHNG CHNG VOL VOL CLc1 82.11 -0.23 -0.3% 81.18 82.67 44,953 315,260 CLc2 82.67 -0.15 -0.2% 81.68 83.17 43,596 149,117 LCOc1 84.66 -0.07 -0.1% 83.57 85.06 58,789 198,212 RBc1 2.1615 0.0058 0.3% 2.1313 2.1648 1,241 45,912 RBc2 2.1172 0.0033 0.2% 2.0900 2.1191 1,846 36,270 HOc1 2.3006 -0.0084 -0.4% 2.2765 2.3114 3,735 35,062 HOc2 2.3202 -0.0078 -0.3% 2.2951 2.3319 2,419 16,498 * NYMEX crude oil for December CLc1 fell 23 cents to $82.11 a barrel by 8:24 a.m. in volume of 44,953 lots. (Reporting by Robert Gibbons; Editing by John Picinich)

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