Crude oil production in the U.S. last week increased for the 30th time in the past 36 weeks, according to data released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday.
Production of crude oil for the week ending Sept. 14 rose by 118,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 10.97 million bpd, the EIA data showed.
Crude oil output increased by 18,000 bpd in the state of Alaska, while it rose by 100,000 bpd in other states, according to the data.
Commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 2.1 million barrels, or 0.5 percent, to 394.1 million barrels for the week ending Sept. 14, the EIA data showed.
The market expectation was a decline of 2.7 million barrels. The crude stocks had fallen by 5.3 million barrels the week before.
Strategic petroleum reserves (SPR), which are not included in the commercial crude stocks, remained unchanged at 660 million barrels during that period.
Gasoline inventories decreased by 1.7 million barrels, or 0.7 percent, to 234.2 million barrels, according to the EIA data.
The market expectation was a decline of 0.1 million barrels. The gasoline stocks were up by 1.3 million barrels during the previous week.
- Oil prices up
With the weekly decline in the U.S. crude oil inventories, crude oil prices in the global market showed gains.
International benchmark Brent crude climbed to $79.41 per barrel at 1510 GMT on Wednesday.
American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to $70.70 a barrel at the same time.
By Ovunc Kutlu in New York
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr