The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) revealed on Wednesday that crude inventories increased by 0.822 million barrels in the week ended December 6. Economists had forecast a drop of 2.763 million barrels.

At the same time, gasoline stocks surged by 5.405 million barrels, while analysts had expected an increase of 2.561 million barrels. Distillate stocks climbed by 4.118 million barrels, while analysts had forecast an advance of 1.950 million barrels.

Meanwhile, oil production in the U.S. declined by 100,000 barrels a day to 12.800 million barrels a day.

U.S. crude oil imports averaged 6.9 million barrels per day last week, up by 899,000 barrels per day from the previous week.