US natural gas stockpiles likely rose by 79 billion cubic feet last week

Oct 21 (Reuters) - US energy firms likely added a below-normal 79 billion cubic feet of natural gas into storage last week, according to the average estimate in a Reuters poll released on Wednesday.

The estimate compares with an injection of 86 bcf during the same week a year ago and an average increase for that week of 87 bcf over the past five years (2021 to 2025).

In the prior week ended October 9, energy firms added 67 bcf of gas into storage. USOILN=ECI

If correct, the forecast for the week ended October 16 would increase stockpiles to 3.646 trillion cubic feet. That would be about 4.0% below the same week a year ago and about 1.0% 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. EDT (1430 GMT) on Thursday.

There were 62 total degree days (TDDs) last week, lower than the 30-year normal of 72 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 11 analysts, whose estimates ranged from injections of 72 bcf to 88 bcf, with a median increase of 78 bcf.

Early estimates for the week ending October 23 showed an average increase of 68 bcf.

That figure compares with an injection of 75 bcf during the same week last year and a five-year average increase of 77 bcf.

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