US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for September delivery fell three cents to $48.76 in afternoon trade, reversing an uptick in the morning session.
Brent crude rose 21 cents to $53.59 a barrel, extending gains the day before.
Both contracts rebounded from recent losses to close higher on Wednesday after the Energy information Administration said stockpiles fell 5.2 million barrel in the week to July24, more than expectations of a 200,000 barrel decline.
A slide indicates stronger demand and is supportive of prices.