Oil futures pared gains on Thursday following weekly data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showing that crude supplies unexpectedly rose by one million barrels for the week ended Jan. 17.
Analysts polled by Platts were looking for a decline of 1.9 million barrels while the American Petroleum Institute late Wednesday reported a climb of 4.9 million barrels.
Gasoline supplies also climbed 2.1 million barrels, while distillate stockpiles fell by 3.2 million barrels, the EIA said.
Gasoline stockpiles were expected to climb 1.7 million barrels while distillate supplies were seen down 1.2 million barrels, according to the Platts poll.
Following the latest data, which came a day later than usual because of Monday's holiday, March crude traded at $97.03 U.S. a barrel, up 30 cents, or 0.3%, on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was at $97.11 U.S. shortly before the report.
