By Alison Sider

U.S. crude-oil stocks are expected to show an increase in data due Wednesday from the Department of Energy, according to a survey of analysts and traders by The Wall Street Journal.

Estimates from 12 analysts and traders showed U.S. oil inventories are projected to have increased by 2.4 million barrels, on average, in the week ended March 16.

Nine analysts expect stockpiles to rise and three expect them to fall. Forecasts range from a decrease of 2 million barrels to an increase of 6.2 million barrels.

The closely watched survey from the Energy Information Administration is due at 10:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday.

Gasoline stockpiles are expected to fall by 1.4 million barrels, on average. Three analysts expect them to rise and nine forecast them to fall. Estimates range from a decrease of 3 million barrels to an increase of 1.9 million barrels.

Stocks of distillates, which include heating oil and diesel, are expected to fall by 1.8 million barrels. All 12 analysts expect a decrease. Forecasts range from a fall of 4 million barrels to a fall of 500,000 barrels.

Refinery use is seen rising by 0.2 percentage point to 90.2% of capacity. Four analysts expect an increase, five forecast a decrease, and three didn't report expectations. Forecasts range from a decrease of 0.5 percentage point to an increase of 1.4 percentage point.

The American Petroleum Institute, an industry group, said late Tuesday that its own data for the week showed a 2.7-million-barrel decrease in crude supplies, a 1.1-million-barrel fall in gasoline stocks and a 1.9-million-barrel decrease in distillate inventories, according to a market participant.

 
                                Crude    Gasoline    Distillates    Refinery Use 
   Citi Futures                      4.5       -3          -1.5          -0.5 
   Commodity Research Group          4        1.9          -2             0.5 
   Confluence Investment Management  3         -3          -0.5             1 
   Energy Management Institute       4.1       -3          -1.8          -0.5 
   Excel Futures                    -1.9     -2.5          -1.8           1.4 
   First Standard Financial         -0.7      1.2          -2.7 
   ION Energy                        2         -2          -3 
   Price Futures Group              -2         -3          -4               1 
   Ritterbusch and Associates        6.2       -2          -1            -0.5 
   Schneider Electric                3.1     -0.5          -1            -0.5 
   Tradition Energy                  3          1          -1            -0.5 
   Tyche Capital Advisors            3.8      -1.8         -1.4 
   AVERAGE                           2.4      -1.4         -1.8           0.2

Write to Alison Sider at alison.sider@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 20, 2018 17:01 ET (21:01 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.