Crude oil futures gained higher on Thursday by gaining 0.2 percent,12 cents at $72.54 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.London Brent crude was down 1.7 percent down $1.26 to settle at $73.33.September gasoline futures settle at $2.03 a gallon, while heating oil settle at $1.91 a gallon.Natural gas for September delivery gained to settle at $3.16 per 1,000 cubic feet.U.S. crude prices have been volatile this week,as the contract jumped $3.23 On Wednesday.