US Cash Crude-Coastal, offshore grades broadly rise at WTI/Brent spread widens

Aug 8 (Reuters) - Coastal and offshore grades broadly rose on Friday, dealers said, as the spread between U.S. crude futures and Brent widened.

U.S. crude futures' discount to Brent widened to as much as minus $3.61, its most since mid-June. A wider spread makes U.S. grades more attractive to foreign buyers.

U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a third week in a row, energy services firm Baker Hughes BKR.O said in its closely followed report on Friday.

* Light Louisiana Sweet WTC-LLS for September delivery was steady at a midpoint of a $1.93 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.70 and $2.15 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* Mars Sour WTC-MRS rose 15 cents to a midpoint of a 15-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 5-cent and 25-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI Midland WTC-WTM rose 5 cents to a midpoint of a 45-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 35-cent and 55-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* West Texas Sour WTC-WTS fell 2 cents to a midpoint of a 20-cent discount and was seen bid and offered between a 25-cent and 15-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* WTI at East Houston WTC-MEH, also known as MEH, traded between a 65-cent and 85-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

* ICE Brent October futures LCOc1 rose 16 cents to settle at $66.59 a barrel

* WTI September crude CLc1 futures remained unchanged at $63.88 a barrel

* The Brent/WTI spread WTCLc1-LCOc1 widened 22 cents to last trade at minus $3.61, after hitting a high of minus $3.38 and a low of minus $3.61