The Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported a much larger-than-expected 41 Bcf injection into natural gas storage inventories for the week ending July 29.

The EIA figure topped even the highest of estimates ahead of the report, and seemingly eased some concerns about supply, given the possibility of Freeport LNG’s return in October.

The Nymex September gas futures contract was down about 24 cents day/day at around $8.020/MMBtu in the minutes leading up to the inventory report. They quickly plunged to $7.880 as the EIA print crossed trading desks. By 11 a.m. ET, though, the prompt month was back at $8.112, off 15.4 cents from Wednesday’s close.

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