Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday after government data showed a surprisingly large decline in crude inventories for a fourth straight week, and an offsetting rise in gasoline stocks.
U.S. commercial crude stockpiles fell by 1.9 million barrels to a total of 502.7 million barrels in the week through Sept. 23. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast of 3 million barrel build.
The drawdown in crude stocks was offset by a 2 million barrel build in gasoline stockpiles, compared with expectations in a Reuters poll for a gain of 178,000 barrels.
Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, fell by 1.9 million barrels, versus expectations for a 14,000 decline, the EIA data showed.
