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World oil prices rose on Thursday after the latest weekly snapshot of energy inventories in the United States showed a higher than expected rise in stockpiles.
New York's main futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March, jumped 68 cents to 78.01 dollars a barrel.
Brent North Sea crude for April delivery rose 63 cents to 76.90 dollars a barrel.
The US Department of Energy said crude oil stockpiles rose by nearly 3.1 million barrels to 334.5 million barrels for the week ended February 12, compared with an average survey estimate of a 1.8-million increase.
Gasoline stocks rose by 1.6 million barrels to 232.1 million barrels, while analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast a 1.5-million increase.
Distillate stocks, including heating oil and diesel fuel, dropped by 2.9 million barrels to 153.3 million barrels.
Northern parts of the United States experienced extremely cold weather conditions last week, which pushed up demand for heating fuel.
The Department of Energy weekly data is closely followed since the United States is the world's biggest energy consuming nation.
The US dollar meanwhile rose against the euro Thursday on concerns the Greek debt crisis could affect other eurozone nations and on expectations that the Federal Reserve may tighten monetary policy sooner than thought, analysts said.
A stronger greenback makes dollar-priced crude more expensive for buyers using weaker currencies, hitting demand.
Traders were also keeping a watch over oil-rich Iran, where renewed tensions over Tehran's nuclear ambitions has helped to boost crude prices this week.
Iran recently began enriching uranium to 20 percent purity, which the United States and several other powers said added to evidence that the Islamic republic is seeking to build a nuclear weapon.
Tehran counters that its only goal is peaceful nuclear energy and research.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said her country had no plan for military action against Iran, while Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Washington has not ruled out military action.
