Crude prices rose Thursday on concerns of U.S. refinery utilization shortage.

The Energy Department reported Wednesday the U.S. refinery utilization fell 1.5 percent last week to 89.6 percent of capacity.

Light, sweet crude for July delivery rose 97 cents to 66.93 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In London, July Brent crude futures rose 20 cents to settle at 71.22 dollars a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.