Buying oil futures involves entering a legally binding agreement to purchase a specific amount of oil (typically 1,000 barrels for standard contracts) at a set price on a future date . To start, you must open a specialized account with a registered futures broker, fund it with sufficient margin—a "down payment" that is a fraction of the total contract value—and select a contract based on your risk tolerance . Trading Crude Oil Futures Contracts | NinjaTrader