US natural gas storage rises 33 billion cubic feet, above average

US natural gas inventories rose last week, remaining above the five-year seasonal average, according to data released by the Energy Information Administration on Thursday.

Working gas in underground storage across the lower 48 states increased by 33 billion cubic feet to 3.915 trillion cubic feet in the week ended October 31, up from 3.882 trillion cubic feet a week earlier.

Stocks were 6 billion cubic feet lower than at the same time last year but 162 billion cubic feet higher than the five-year average of 3.753 trillion cubic feet, the EIA said.

By region, inventories fell by 4 billion cubic feet in the East but rose by 20 billion in the Midwest and 14 billion in the South Central region. Smaller builds of 2 billion cubic feet were reported in both the Mountain and Pacific regions.

At 3.915 trillion cubic feet, total working gas levels remain within the five-year historical range, the EIA added.