Crude oil prices are down for the second week in a row amid persistent concerns that long-term COVID-19 lockdowns in Shanghai could stall economic growth and reduce fuel demand.
Benchmarks fell nearly 5% last week on demand concerns.
Following a sharp fall on Monday, oil prices opened slightly higher on Tuesday as the US dollar rose to a two-year high, making oil more expensive for other currency holders.
Brent crude futures were up US$25c, or 0.2%, at US$102.57, while the US West Texas Intermediate contracts rose US$16c, or 0.2%, to US$98.70.
Oil prices fell by 4% on Monday, while in intraday markets they fell by 6.5%.
Fresh Covid cases in Beijing have dampened market sentiment, say analysts, with Shanghai, the nation's largest business centre, already under lockdown for four weeks.
A record number of deaths were reported in Shanghai over the weekend, which caused its stock index to experience its worst day since February 2020.
Orders to conduct mass tests, including in Beijing's largest shopping district, have sparked fears of other city lockdowns similar to Shanghai.
The possibility of rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve also weighed on oil price sentiment as any increase in interest rates.
Western countries welcomed the fall in oil prices, as inflation was rising even before many countries cut off the flow of Russian oil following its invasion of Ukraine.
US, Canada, UK, and Australia have banned Russian oil outright, while the EU, which is far more dependent on Russian energy, plans to impose its own embargo.