Crude oil prices eased in Asia on Friday after an initial run up ahead of the latest rig count data in the U.S.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, WTI crude for June delivery fell 0.45% to $44.12 a barrel. Brent crude eased 0.38% to $44.84 a barrel.

Overnight, crude ticked up on Thursday paring early gains, as dangerous wildfires threatened oil sands production in Canada and a stand-off in Libya impacted the nation's already depleted supply, providing short-term upside pressure for global oil prices.

Both the international and U.S. domestic benchmarks of crude hit fresh 2016-yearly highs last week, closing April more than 50% above their lows from mid-February.

Crude prices rebounded in Thursday's session as massive wildfires in Alberta headed south, forcing additional evacuations in Canada's sixth-largest province. Earlier on Thursday morning, officials in Fort McMurray, a small town in Northeastern Alberta, declared a State of Emergency, forcing all 88,000 of its residents to evacuate the area. As of early Thursday afternoon, nearly 1,600 structures were damaged and 18,500 acres in the area were destroyed

Source: Investing.com