LONDON (March 7): Oil prices firmed on Tuesday but stayed in a tight range, with investors seeking a clearer direction from inventory data and comments from oil officials as rising US shale output offset OPEC production cuts.

Brent crude was up 54 US cents at US$56.55 a barrel by 1420 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was up 53 US cents at US$53.73. Both benchmarks had traded in negative and positive territory since the start of the day's Asian session.

Oil prices have been stuck in a US$3 band since February, failing to take off after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries implemented, to a surprisingly high degree, the first production cut in eight years.

Capping any upsurge has been an increase in US shale oil drilling after WTI rose firmly above US$50 a barrel in December following OPEC's sealing of the deal, which also included several non-OPEC producers such as Russia.

"Market-wise, we have seen open interest on Brent fall to a six-week low as non-performing or even loss-making longs have begun to reduce exposure," said Ole Hansen, Saxo Bank's head of commodity strategy.

Fund managers doubled their net long positions in Brent, WTI and options to 951 million barrels between the start of November and Feb 21, betting OPEC's high compliance with the cut agreement would push up prices.

But with Russia's lacklustre participation in the cuts, rising shale output and signs that OPEC countries increased their crude exports in February after a January reduction, that bullish sentiment has wavered.

Oil company executives, energy ministers, including from Saudi Arabia and Russia, and other top officials such as the head of OPEC are meeting in Houston this week for the CERAWeek energy conference. Observers are keen for any comments that may indicate whether OPEC would extend its output reduction.

Russia and Iraq said it was too early to discuss that issue, but OPEC's secretary-general as well as Saudi officials are expected to speak later on Tuesday. Russia also promised to implement its 300,000-barrels-per-day share of production cuts by the end of April.

Brokerage Marex Spectron, however, said it expects production and exports from Russia to rise gradually.

"If our expectations materialise, we will see a quick deterioration of the short-term supply conditions."

Markets await US oil stocks data from industry group API on Tuesday and the Energy Information Administration on Wednesday. US oil stocks are expected to have risen for the ninth consecutive week to a record, a Reuters poll showed.