WTI prices closed in on $52 a barrel on Monday as OPEC reported record compliance to its 10-month old output reduction agreement. A slowdown in North American drilling coincided with the industry cartel’s announcement, which propped up hopes of a shrinking oil supply glut. A Saturday statement by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) showed that member countries, along with its NOPEC partners (Russia and the like) had been keeping up with their commitments from last November. The countries reached a 120 percent compliance rate in September, the bloc said. “The lower U.S. rig count number, the OPEC compliance number and the geopolitical headlines from northern Iraq and Iran on sanctions have helped futures higher,” Ole Hansen, head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank told World Oil. “But there are signs the market could be weakening with the seasonal refinery demand slowdown.” Glencore Plc, Gunvore Group Ltd. and […]