Traders said light spread play on both Brent and gas oil had put some pressure on their front months in early price action but outright trading conditions were thin.

By 1059 GMT, January Brent was trading around 10 cents lower at $25.42 a barrel, its backwardation to February tightening to around $1-1.05, compared with the $1.15 best on Thursday.

December gas oil stood $1.25 lower at $216 a tonne holding a $4.75 premium to January futures after touching $6 on Thursday. Analysts said supportive technicals together with the fundamental support from tight physical supplies was likely to keep Brent price action consolidative within a $25 support, $26 resistance range and the overall uptrend intact.

"Physically things are clearly getting tight, with the December North Sea programmes already taken up and Iran reducing supplies in order to stay within quota," said LawrenceEagles at GNI Research said in his daily report.