LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters): Oil prices were little changed on Tuesday as a massive winter storm hit crude production and affected refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast, with price rises offset by a resumption in supply from Kazakhstan.
Brent crude futures were down 6 cents, or 0.1%, at $65.53 a barrel at 1146 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude declined 1 cent, or 0%, to $60.62 a barrel.
The U.S. faced a loss of production as a severe winter storm swept across the country, straining energy infrastructure and power grids.
U.S. oil producers lost up to 2 million barrels per day or roughly 15% of national production over the weekend, analysts and traders estimated.
At the same time, several refineries along the U.S. Gulf Coast reported issues related to the freezing weather, which Daniel Hynes, an analyst at ANZ, said raised concerns about fuel supply disruption.
"The cold weather in the U.S. will likely cause quite significant drawdowns in oil stocks over the next few weeks, particularly if this weather persists," said Tamas Varga, an oil analyst at brokerage PVM. This could boost prices in the coming days, he said.
The oil price rise was tempered by Kazakhstan, which is poised to resume production from its biggest oilfield, according to its energy ministry. Industry sources said volume was still low.
The CPC, which operates Kazakhstan's main exporting pipeline, also said it returned to full loading capacity at its terminal on the Russian Black Sea coast after maintenance was completed at one of its three mooring points.
Some traders are also likely to be taking profit on heating oil, which has ?risen sharply in recent ?days due to the cold weather in the U.S., PVM's Varga said.
On the geopolitical front, a U.S. aircraft carrier and supporting warships have arrived in the Middle East, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday, expanding President Donald Trump's capabilities to defend U.S. forces, or potentially take military action against Iran.
"Supply risks haven't totally evaporated... Tension in the Middle East persists after President Trump dispatched naval assets to the region," Hynes said.
