* About 1/4 of U.S. offshore oil, gas output shut ahead of storm
* Norway strike closes 2 major offshore oil fields
* Key EU leaders back growth plan; more talks this week
* Coming Up: U.S. new home sales May
(Adds details, updates prices)
By Florence Tan
SINGAPORE, June 25 (Reuters) - Brent crude oil rose above $91 per barrel on Monday on supply disruptions as a storm threat shut a quarter of U.S. offshore crude and gas output, while a strike in Norway closed two major fields including benchmark grade Oseberg.
Oil futures rose nearly $1 for a second straight session as U.S. companies shut oil and natural gas production in the Gulf of Mexico as a precaution ahead of Tropical Storm Debby, even as forecasters said the storm could head north and miss the vital offshore energy facilities.
The U.S. Gulf of Mexico is home to about 20 percent of the nation's oil production.
Brent crude
U.S. crude
"If we have a reprieve from the storms it's (the gain in prices is) going to be temporary," Tony Nunan, a risk manager at Mitsubishi Corp said, as onshore U.S. oil and gas production is almost equivalent to its offshore volume after a strong growth in output from shale resources.
Oil workers in Norway went on strike from Sunday and shut down the Heidrun and Oseberg fields, which together account for about 9 percent or 150,000 barrels per day of Norwegian oil production.
Oseberg is one of four North Sea grades used to determine Brent prices. A full production shutdown in Norway is unlikely, as the government has the authority to force a settlement if a dispute threatens its most vital industry.
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For a 3-month chart analysis on U.S. oil:
FACTBOX on Debby's impact on Gulf of Mexico
National Hurricane Center:
Euro zone crisis in graphics:
Iran oil industry overview:
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EUROPE SUMMIT
Oil is on track to post its biggest quarterly fall since the financial crisis in 2008, as the euro zone crisis and weak growth in the United States roiled global markets and threatened to lessen fuel demand, while ample supply from OPEC capped price gains.
"We could be close to a bottom as it (the price) is well below OPEC's target," Nunan said.
Top crude exporter Saudi Arabia wants an oil price of around $100 a barrel, its oil minister said earlier this year.
Europe moved a step towards a pro-growth policy after German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed on Friday with leaders of France, Italy and Spain on a 130 billion euros package to revive growth, but resisted pressure for common euro zone bonds or a more flexible use of Europe's rescue funds.
Investors are closely watching a crucial European Union leaders summit later this week.
"The success of the summit can probably best be measured by whether it achieves a meaningful and lasting decline in Spain's bond yields," Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, said in a note.
Investors are also watching if Saudi Arabia will reduce output to stem the recent price fall after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries agreed in mid-June to maintain the 30 million barrels per day production ceiling.
The ramp-up in OPEC output has cushioned the impact of sanctions from the United States and the European Union on Iranian crude exports which may have fallen as much as 1 million barrels per day in June, analysts said.
U.S. central bank sanctions will come into effect this week, while the European Union embargo and a related insurance ban starts July 1. These will likely be implemented as planned after talks on Iran's nuclear programme stalled in Moscow.
Bullish hedge funds and speculators modestly boosted their long positions on commodity prices for a second week, data showed on Friday.
Reuters market analyst Wang Tao expects Brent and U.S. crude to slip towards $70 a barrel in three months, on bearish signals in technical charts.
(Editing by Daniel Magnowski)
((Florence.Tan@thomsonreuters.com)(+65 6870 3497)(Reuters Messaging: florence.tan.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: MARKETS OIL/