Crude inventories fell by 8.95 million barrels in the last week, nearly three times analysts' expectations for a decrease of 3.1 million barrels.

Crude stocks at the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery hub rose by 678,000 barrels, EIA said.

Refinery crude runs fell by 9,000 barrels per day, EIA data showed. Refinery utilization rates slipped by 0.2 percentage points.

Gasoline stocks were unchanged, compared with analysts' expectations in a Reuters poll for a 1.1 million-barrel drop.

Distillate stockpiles, which include diesel and heating oil, rose by 702,000 barrels, versus expectations for a drop of 572,000 barrels, the EIA data showed.

US crude imports rose last week by 194,000 barrels per day.