Energy stocks were lower Wednesday afternoon, with the NYSE Energy Sector Index falling 1.8% and the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) dropping 1.9%.

The Philadelphia Oil Service Sector Index was shedding 1.4%, and the Dow Jones US Utilities Index was up 0.4%.

Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude oil was falling 3.2% to $102.50 a barrel, and the global benchmark Brent crude contract was declining 2.8% to $105.76 a barrel. Henry Hub natural gas futures fell 1% to $2.89 per 1 million BTU.

In corporate news, National Fuel Gas (NFG) is exploring options for its integrated natural gas production business, Reuters reported. Any deal would value the unit at about $5 billion, the report said. Shares were down 0.8%.