US natural gas stockpiles likely rose by 66 billion cubic feet last week

Nov 12 (Reuters) - US energy firms likely added an above-normal 66 billion cubic feet of natural gas into storage last week, according to the average estimate in a Reuters poll released on Thursday.

Some 44 bcf were injected during the same week a year ago and over the past five years, the average increase for that week was 40 bcf (2021 to 2025).

In the prior week ended October 30, energy firms added 77 bcf of gas into storage. USOILN=ECI

If correct, the forecast for the week ended November 6 would increase stockpiles to 3.867 trillion cubic feet. That would be about 2.2% below the same week a year ago and about 2.1% above the five-year average for the week.

The US Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release its weekly storage report at 10:30 a.m. EST (1530 GMT) on Friday. That is one day later than usual due to the US Veterans Day holiday this week.

There were 64 total degree days (TDDs) last week, lower than the 30-year normal of 99 TDDs for the period, data from financial firm LSEG showed.

Total degree days measure the number of degrees a day's average temperature is above or below 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) to estimate demand to cool or heat homes and businesses.

Reuters polled 12 analysts, whose estimates ranged from injections of 60 bcf to 82 bcf, with a median increase of 67 bcf.

Early estimates for the week ending November 13 showed an average increase of 32 bcf.

That figure compares with a withdrawal of 6 bcf during the same week last year and a five-year average increase of 15 bcf.

Following is a list of poll participants. All figures are in billion cubic feet: