Oil prices rose on Thursday, supported by lower U.S. crude stockpiles and a halt to exports from Iraq’s Kurdistan region, which offset pressure from a smaller-than-expected cut to Russian supplies. Producers have shut in or reduced output at several oilfields in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq following a halt to the northern export pipeline. More outages are on the horizon. Also supporting prices was a Wednesday report from the U.S. EIA that U.S. crude oil stockpiles fell unexpectedly. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose $1.40 per barrel day over day, or 1.9%, to close at $74.37 per barrel. Brent crude futures rose 99 cents, or 1.3% day over day, closing at US$79.27 per barrel.