Anytime you've earned a profit no harm whatsoever in taking some off the table.

Oil has become an asset play. People rather own oil than falling currency or treasuries. Presently there isn't much oil demand in the U.S., more so, in China which is trying to buy up oil properties all over the world but hasn't been as successful as one would think even with their $2 trillion in currency reserves. Face it, oil and other commodities right now are basically a hedge against the weak dollar and inflation. With the growing debt of the U.S. to the tune of $9 trillion+ crude could be triple digits again within a year. Just any kind of growth in the economy in 2010 would help stimulate rise in oil prices even more.

One more thing given all the alternative fuel ideas out there.
Until traders can trade it oil is still the world's best tradeable commodity. Too many investors directly or indirectly through stocks and mutual funds want oil prices to be strong without destroying purchasing power of consumers. As consumers we naturally want the price of oil and gas to go down but there might be more at stake for prices to stay high without collapsing our country and society as a whole.