Oil prices gained on tensions in the Middle East and Nigeria.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown voiced support for the Nigerian government, sparking a threat of violence from a rebel group, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Tension in the Middle East over a possible strike against Iran for its nuclear program have also added to supply jitters.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, crude oil prices settled at $144.81 late in the day. The price of heating oil fell 0.0006 cents in late trading to $4.076 per gallon. Reformulated blendstock gasoline prices fell 0.0077 cents to $3.5555 per gallon. Natural gas prices fell 0.048 cents to $11.856 per million British thermal units.

At the pump, the national average price for a gallon of unleaded gasoline dropped 0.008 cents Friday to $4.096 per gallon, AAA said.