Hi Kobza,
When backtesting technicals in oil spreads, I use the rolling series to view how sections of the forward curve has behaved historically, rather than actual month by month spreads, which amortise down the curve over time. Essentially creating the rolling series on the 1st v 2nd spread, 2v3, 3v4...etc. Rolling them over on the expiry dates.
On WTI I like looking at reversion trends on the rolling 3rd v 4th month spread rather than the front ones; it's still liquid enough, but isn't as noisy as the near ones and has a lower correlation front month flat price. The last 18 months has seen regular cyclical breakdown in the spread on a 6-8 week basis, generally between -0.25 and -1.20. At -1.20 Implied yields at current prices are >20% p/a, which must be tempting to anyone borrowing at sub 2% and storing at $0.30/b/m.
Brent spreads have lower volatility and tend to trend smoothly rather than the more erratic reversion characteristics seen in WTI. I like the 2nd v 3rd spread.
GasOil too 2nd v 3rd spread, very long smooth trending patterns, big tick size ($0.25c) and supports good sized positions. (spreads are often 5000lots a side)
Hope that's of some use.
Aside from the spreads, I like the front Brent v WTI arb, there's an intraday play here around the US open, seems to be a breakdown to the low or high of the day just after 8am EST which it then reverts from. I don't know the drivers for this and would love to hear anyone with any insight.