Energy stocks were higher Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index up 0.7% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) adding 1.1%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was decreasing 0.8%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index advanced 0.5%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil rose 0.5% to $82.76 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract increased 0.1% to $88.68 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures gained 4.2% to $2.89 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, Par Pacific (PARR) shares popped 4.9%. The company said late Tuesday its 46%-owned Laramie Energy has struck a deal to sell substantially all of its oil and gas assets for $485 million in cash.