Oil prices slipped under 82 dollars on Thursday as investors took profits on gains made followed data that showed stronger US energy demand, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for April delivery, dropped 14 cents to 81.95 dollars a barrel.

London's Brent North Sea crude for April was also down 14 cents to 80.34 dollars.

Prices climbed on Wednesday, boosted by declining fuel stockpiles in the United States, which indicated strengthening demand in the world's top energy consuming nation.

The US Department of Energy (DoE) posted large drops in reserves of gasoline or petrol, and distillates, which include diesel and heating fuel.

"It was largely positive but ... you're always going to have some profit-taking especially while things in Europe and the US still look pretty sluggish," said Ben Westmore, an energy economist with the National Australia Bank in Melbourne.

The DoE report showed gasoline stockpiles tumbled 2.9 million barrels in the week to March 5, surprising the market as most analysts had expected an increase of about 100,000 barrels.

The DoE also said distillates were down 2.2 million barrels, far more than predictions of a 700,000-barrel drop.

US crude oil inventories meanwhile climbed 1.4 million barrels, which undershot analysts' consensus forecast for a 1.7-million-barrel gain.

The market also found support Wednesday from news of soaring Chinese exports and higher world oil demand growth projections by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

AFP