Oil prices have risen to near eight-week highs, with Brent crude futures above $US50 a barrel, as a much steeper than expected decline in US inventories encouraged hopes the global crude glut would recede.

Oil prices have risen to near eight-week highs, with Brent crude futures above $US50 a barrel, as a much steeper than expected decline in US inventories encouraged hopes the global crude glut would recede.