Crude futures eased midweek amid rising US inventories, projections of increasing US shale oil production and forecasts of tepid economic growth in China this year.
The retreat came after a strong showing on Monday, when hopes of a trade deal between the US and China helped to boost sentiment.
However, the mood soured as US supermajor rivals Chevron and ExxonMobil reported bullish projections for their Permian basin shale oil production.
