weakening Hurricane Emily, missed the United States this week but caused precautionary rig evacuations on the U.S. side of the Gulf of Mexico. Oil workers began returning to rigs in the southern Gulf of Mexico, and Mexican state oil monopoly Petroleos Mexicanos had opened its three main loading ports on Wednesday, as Hurricane Emily hurtled slowly inland. Another storm, Tropical Depression 6, was brewing, but appeared to be heading north, and away from the Gulf. "With Emily missing to the south, Tropical Depression No. 6 taking a northern track, concerns about hurricanes may ease for the moment," said David Knapp, an analyst with Energyintel. Frederic Lasserre, head of commodities research at SG Securities in Paris, described the U.S. report as "fairly bearish," with a "minor draw on (crude) stocks, and quite a substantial build in distillates." "Even the draw on gasoline is quite small," said Lasserre. --more 1401 Local Time 1101 GMT
