The EIA reported a draw of -2,332 MBbls in U.S. crude-oil inventories. In contrast, the market expected a build of +2,510 MBbls as reported by Bloomberg.
Prices were up in the five minutes following the announcement, to $68.97 from $68.92 just before 09:30 AM.
Inventories for the U.S. are now at a deficit of 15.80 MMBbls (-3.5%) to last year, and a deficit of 20.50 MMBbls (-4.5%) to the five-year average.
