The Energy Information Administration reported on Thursday that U.S. crude stockpiles increased while gasoline and distillate stocks fell.

The EIA reported that crude inventories increased by 4.6 millions barrels, to 432.5million barrels during the week ending February 14. This was compared to analysts' expectations from a poll of a 3.1-million barrel increase.

Crude oil stocks at Cushing, Oklahoma's delivery hub, rose by 1.5 millions barrels in the last week.

The week saw a drop in crude oil runs of 15,000 barrels a day and a fall in utilization rates by 0.1 percentage points to 84.9%.

The EIA reported that gasoline stocks dropped by 151,000 barrels last week, to 247,9 million barrels. This was compared to expectations of a 6,000 barrel draw.

The EIA reported that distillate stocks, which includes diesel and heating oil fell by 2.1 millions barrels to 116.6million barrels. This was compared with a forecast of 1.6million barrels.

The EIA reported that net U.S. crude exports increased by 472,000 bpd last week, while imports dropped by 961,000.

(source: Reuters)