The U.S.' crude oil production climbed to a fresh record high last week, according to data released by the country's Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday.
The world's biggest crude oil producer saw its crude output boost by 104,000 barrels per day (bpd) to a new all-time record of 12.1 million bpd for the week ending Feb. 22, the EIA data showed.
While crude production in the state of Alaska rose by 4,000 bpd last week, it increased by 100,000 bpd in other U.S. states excluding Hawaii, according to the data.
This also marked the 45th time crude oil production in the U.S. increased during the past 59 weeks.
Crude production in the country had increased to a record high level of 11.7 million bpd for the week ending Nov. 9, and even further for week ending Jan. 11 to 11.9 million bpd, and most recently to 12 million bpd for the week ending Feb. 15, according to the EIA data.
The U.S.' crude oil production is expected to average 12.4 million bpd in 2019 and 13.2 million bpd in 2020, according to the EIA's Short Term Energy Outlook report for February.
- Crude stocks fall
Commercial crude oil stocks in the U.S. defied expectations of a 2.8 million barrel increase and instead decreased by 8.6 million barrels, or 1.9 percent, to 445.9 million barrels for the week ending Feb. 22, the EIA said. Stocks rose by 3.7 million barrels the previous week.
Strategic petroleum reserves, which are not included in the commercial crude stocks, remained unchanged at 649.1 million barrels last week, according to the data.
Gasoline inventories decreased by 1.9 million barrels, or 0.7 percent, to 254.9 million barrels during that period, more than market expectations of a fall of 1.7 million barrels. During the previous week, gasoline inventories saw a decline of 1.5 million barrels.
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr