ENERGY WATCH

WTI $101.32 — noon Tuesday

From the Tank Tiger

Oil prices firmed up last week as Brent crude closed at $120.65 a barrel on Friday and WTI ended the week at $113.90. The higher prices and widening Brent spread are coaxing US producers to punch more holes in the ground, albeit at a very methodical pace. Even though the rig count has increased for more than a year and a half, producers are still looking before leaping. Accordin…