US Cash Crude-SGC firms as output at two Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms temporarily shut in

HOUSTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Southern Green Canyon (SGC) strengthened on Tuesday as output at two Gulf of Mexico offshore platforms were temporarily shut in.

SGC firmed by 40 cents to a discount of $2.45 to US West Texas Intermediate crude, after Shell SHEL.L said output at its Whale and Perdido platforms offshore platforms was shut down last night due to a shutdown of the Hoover Offshore Oil Pipeline System (HOOPS).

Shell expects the platforms to resume production by the end of Tuesday.

Meanwhile, WTI Midland and WTI at East Houston, also known as MEH, eased 10 cents each, while Mars Sour firmed 10 cents.

The spread between WTI and Brent settled at minus $3.86. A spread narrower than minus $4 discourages exports.

Meanwhile, U.S. oil production is expected to hit a larger record this year than previously expected, the Energy Information Administration said on Tuesday.

The agency raised its forecast for 2025 oil production by 20,000 to average 13.61 million barrels per day in 2025, the highest on record. However, the EIA lowered its forecast for total output in 2026 by 50,000 to 13.53 million bpd.

• Light Louisiana Sweet for January delivery eased 5 cents to a midpoint of a $1.35 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.00 and $1.70 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

• Mars Sour firmed 10 cents to a midpoint of a $1 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $1.20 and 80-cent a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• WTI Midland eased 10 cents to a midpoint of a 45-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 25-cent and 65-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• West Texas Sour eased $1.10 to a midpoint of a $2.45 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $2.65 and $2.25 a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures CLc1 ​

• WTI at East Houston , also known as MEH, traded between a 50-cent and 80-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures CLc1

• ICE Brent February futures LCOc1 fell 55 cents to settle at $61.94 a barrel on Tuesday​.

• WTI January crude CLc1 futures fell 63 cents to settle at $58.25 a barrel on Tuesday​.

• The Brent/WTI spread narrowed 0 cents to to last trade at minus $3.86, after hitting a high of minus $3.84 and a low of minus $3.89.