U.S. crude oil production edged lower in December to 11.85 million barrels per day, posting its first decline since May, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said in a monthly report on Thursday. Production fell 56,000 bpd from a record 11.91 million bpd in November, the agency said. While output rose in Texas and North Dakota, the largest onshore oil-producing states, the gains were offset by production declines in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Production in onshore formations in Texas rose by 35,000 bpd in the month and in North Dakota by 18,000 bpd, while production in the Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico fell by 125,000 bpd, according to the report. Gains in production onshore using technology like hydraulic […]