U.S. to lend crude oil to Marathon Petroleum

WASHINGTON -- The United States will lend 1 million barrels of crude oil from emergency reserves to Findlay-based Marathon Petroleum Corp., which slowed output from its refinery in Garyville, La., because of Hurricane Isaac, the Department of Energy said Friday.

An analyst said the loan of sweet crude oil to Findlay-based Marathon Petroleum should not have a big impact on markets.

Under the agreement, Marathon is to return an equal amount of similar oil to the reserve within three months, plus additional barrels representing interest.