Utilities injected 97 Bcf of natural gas into storage for the week ended Oct. 13, bolstered by a big boost in South Central supplies, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported on Thursday.

The result proved bearish versus expectations and recent norms – an 85 Bcf five-year average increase – and drove down Nymex natural gas futures.

The increase for the last week lifted inventories to 3,626 Bcf, keeping stocks well above the year-earlier level of 3,326 Bcf and the five-year average of 3,451 Bcf. 

[Want to visualize Henry Hub, Houston Ship Channel and Chicago Citygate prices? Check out NGI’s daily natural gas price snapshot now.]

Ahead of the 10:30 ET government print, the November futures contract was up a penny at $3.066/MMBtu. However, the prompt...