Given the numbers that just came out -

crude: +2.7 million barrels
gasoline: +3.8 million barrels
distillates: -2.6 million barrels
total commercial petroleum inventories: +0.3 million barrels

there must be another explanation for the smirk.

Predicting the weekly inventory changes, let alone the direction of the changes, is like rolling dice. Even the analysts, who watch this stuff very closely, are all over the map every week.

Ya...saw that...bit of a surprise.

I guess Cheney's smirk indicates that he just gets his rocks off when hearing talk about energy.

Although, this makes no sense at all, but crude prices are going up...go figure...there is no rhyme or reason in crude prices these days.

I thought the upswing might be related to the news on Cantarell

I think the MSM is pinning it on the Y2Y increase in demand.