Heavy Oil Discount Narrows Within Tight Range

The discount on Western Canada Select (WCS) heavy crude versus the North American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) edged tighter on Thursday:

* WCS for November delivery in Hardisty, Alberta, settled at $12.75 a barrel below WTI, according to brokerage CalRock, having settled at $12.85 a barrel under the benchmark on Wednesday.

* The Canadian heavy crude market has been very active with strong trade volumes, but remains rangebound, one Calgary-based broker said.

* Global oil prices surged as concerns mounted that a widening regional conflict in the Middle East could disrupt international crude flows.

(Reporting by Nia Williams in British Columbia; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)