Oil prices were flat in Asian trade on Friday with investors spooked by an unexpected rise in US crude inventories, analysts said.

New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in December, fell three cents to $76.91 per barrel.

Brent North Sea crude for December delivery was unchanged at $76.02.

Data released late Thursday showed an increase in crude stockpiles in the US, the world's largest energy consuming nation.

The US Department of Energy announced that American crude oil reserves surged 1.8 million barrels in the week ending November 6.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia said in a report that the increase was "more than had been expected by the market".

The weekly report was published one day later than normal due to Veterans' Day in the United States on Wednesday.

US gasoline or petrol stockpiles unexpectedly jumped by 2.5 million barrels while distillates, which include diesel and heating fuel, rose by around 300 000 barrels, the energy department said.