US Cash Crude-Grades steady in light trading

HOUSTON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - U.S. cash crude grades were little changed in light trading on Friday as the market weighed oversupply concerns and the impact of a U.S tanker seizure near Venezuela. WTI Midland eased 5 cents while and WTI at East Houston was unchanged. The spread between WTI and Brent widened to minus $3.88, but stayed narrower than the minus $4 level that encourages exports. Venezuelan oil exports have fallen sharply since the United States seized a tanker earlier this week and imposed fresh sanctions on shipping companies and vessels doing business with the Latin American oil producer, according to shipping data, documents and maritime sources. Tankers that have loaded about 11 million barrels of oil and fuel are stuck in Venezuelan waters, according to the sources and data. Only tankers chartered by U.S. oil major Chevron (CVX.N) have sailed into international waters carrying Venezuelan crude since the seizure on Wednesday, the data showed. On the U.S. supply side, Baker Hughes said oil rigs rose by one to 414 this week, their highest level since November 21. Light Louisiana Sweet for January delivery was unchanged at a midpoint of a $1.55 premium and was seen bid and offered between a $1.40 and $1.70 a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures (CLc1) Mars Sour was unchanged at a midpoint of a $1.5 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $1.75 and $1.25 a barrel discount to U.S. crude futures (CLc1) WTI Midland eased 5 cents to a midpoint of a 35-cent premium and was seen bid and offered between a 20-cent and 50-cent a barrel premium to U.S. crude futures (CLc1) West Texas Sour was unchanged at a midpoint of a $2.3 discount and was seen bid and offered between a $2.50 and $2.10 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 16 cents to settle at $61.12 a barrel on Friday. WTI January crude (CLc1) futures fell 16 cents to settle at $57.44 a barrel on Friday. The Brent/WTI spread widened 5 cents to to last trade at minus $3.88, after hitting a high of minus $3.82 and a low of minus $3.89.