The United States produced 12.16 million bpd of crude in the month, up 246,000 bpd from a month earlier, the US Energy Information Administration said in a monthly report.

The use of fracking technology in shale formations has boosted the US to become the world's largest crude producer.

Production in the largest producing state, Texas, was up 11,000 bpd at 4.97 million bpd in the month.

Production in North Dakota and New Mexico declined slightly in the month. Production offshore in the US Gulf of Mexico rose 77,000 bpd to 1.98 million bpd in April.

The agency also increased its estimate for March crude production by 11,000 bpd to 11.92 million bpd.

US gasoline consumption rose for the third consecutive month in April, climbing 182,000 bpd to 9.36 million bpd. Gasoline use remains above year-ago levels, according to the data.

US distillate fuel use, which includes diesel, fell 175,000 bpd to 3.98 million bpd in the month.

Meanwhile, monthly gross natural gas production in the lower 48 US states rose to a fresh record high 100.27 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) in April from the prior high of 99.46 bcfd in March, according to the EIA's 914 report.

In Texas, the biggest gas producing state, output increased 1.8pc to a record high 26.83 bcfd from 26.35 bcfd in March.

In Pennsylvania, the second-biggest gas-producing state, output eased 0.1pc to 18.79 bcfd from a record high of 18.80 bcfd in March.