US natural gas storage inventories fell 9 Bcf during the week ending
November 9, leaving total storage stocks at 3.536 Tcf, the US Energy
Information Administration reported Thursday.

The pull fell within consensus expectations of a withdrawal between 7 Bcf
and 12 Bcf.

In the same week of 2006, EIA reported 3.449 Tcf in storage. As a result,
the surplus over the year-ago level slipped to 87 Bcf from 99 Bcf a week ago,
while the surplus over the five-year average dropped to 273 Bcf from 291 Bcf.

EIA reported a net withdrawal of 15 Bcf in the East region, lowering
inventories to 2.002 Tcf, compared with 1.963 Tcf a year ago; a 6-Bcf build in
the West, raising supplies to 471 Bcf compared with 472 Bcf a year ago; and no
change in the producing region, leaving supplies at 1.063 Tcf compared with
1.014 Tcf a year ago.

Inventories are now 92 Bcf above the five-year average of 1.910 Tcf in
the East, 43 Bcf above the average of 428 Bcf in the West, and 139 Bcf above
the average of 924 Bcf in the producing region.

--Melanie Tatum, melanie_tatum@platts.com