U.S. crude stockpiles soared Movement.up.gain by 1.350 million barrels in the week to December to 438.9 million barrels , beating analysts ' expectations for an rise Movement.up.gain of 3 million barrels , data from industry group the American Petroleum Institute showed .

Oil soared Movement.up.gain to nearly $ 150 a barrel by mid-2008 .

Elsewhere , gasoline futures were flat Movement.flat at below $ 19 per barrel , while natural gas futures soared Movement.up.gain 3.30 % to $ 61.95 a barrel .

Crude oil prices soared Movement.up.gain on Thursday on signs of declining Movement.down.loss U.S. oil supply , distress Slow.weak in the dollar and clashes Geopolitical.tension in the the West , particularly Iran .