The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on Wednesday that crude inventories surged by 4.578 million barrels in the week ended September 24, following a decrease of 3.481 million barrels in the previous week. Economists had forecast a draw of 1.652 million barrels.

At the same time, gasoline stocks rose by 0.193 million barrels, while analysts had expected a gain of 1.400 million barrels. Distillate stocks increased 0.385 million barrels, while analysts had forecast a decline of 1.648 million barrels.

Meanwhile, oil production in the U.S. climbed 500,000 barrels a day to 11.100 million barrels a day.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged 6.6 million barrels per day last week, up by 87,000 barrels per day from the previous week.