* U.S. crude inventories surprise with 3.6 mln barrel fall * Distillate builds at twice forecast * Strong Japan machinery orders lend some support * Onshore crude storage to run out Q1 2016 -PIRA (Recasts with EIA data) By Simon Falush and Barani Krishnan LONDON/NEW YORK, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Oil prices gained ground on Wednesday after an unexpected fall in crude storage in the United States, offering a rare signal that the global glut may be easing. Brent crude oil futures were up 66 cents at $40.92 a barrel by 1554 GMT and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures stood at $38.18, up 67 cents from their last settlement. U.S. crude stocks fell by 3.6 million barrels last week, the Energy Information Administration said, breaking a streak of builds and surprising investors after analysts forecast an increase in stocks of 252,000 barrels.
