* Oil prices rise after falling about 3 pct on Wednesday
* U.S. crude stocks fell 0.6 mln barrels in week to Sept. 9
* Returning supply from Libya, Nigeria to weigh on sentiment
By Mark Tay
SINGAPORE, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Oil prices rebounded in early Asian trade on Thursday after falling around 3 percent in the previous session, supported by an unexpected fall in U.S. crude inventories.
U.S. crude inventories dropped by 559,000 barrels in the week to Sept. 9, defying analysts expectations of a crude build of 3.8 million barrels. EIA/S
Brent crude futures LCOc1 were trading at $46.06 per barrel at 0051 GMT, up 21 cents, or 0.5 percent, from the last settlement. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures CLc1 were up 12 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $43.70 a barrel.
Crude prices fell about 3 percent for a second straight day on Wednesday following a 4.6 million barrel build in U.S. distillates inventories. The jump was the biggest weekly build since January and put distillate stocks at six-year seasonal highs.
"It's good news at this time of the year to see a draw like that (in crude stocks)," said Ric Spooner, chief market analyst for CMC Markets. "But the market seems to be more concerned at the moment about the possibility of a sharp increase of the supply from Libya."
Crude prices have fallen by around 8 percent in the last five trading sessions, and concerns are growing over the possibility of returning crude supplies from Libya and Nigeria.
"Both Nigeria and Libya have seen domestic conflicts curb exports. However, both are looking to resume some facilities in the coming weeks," Australian bank ANZ said in a note.
Libya is working to lift force majeure at its port of Zueitina, indicating that Libyan crude exports could start flowing soon. that Nigerian crude supplies could also be returning as offers for October-loading Qua Iboe crude have emerged even as force majeure on the grade remains in place.