WASHINGTON- Underground natural gas storage in the United States stood at 1.853 trillion cubic feet on Feb. 19, 0.7 percent above the five-year average, according to the U.S.  Engergy Information Administration.  That was down 754 billion cubic feet from the 2,607 Tcf reported by EIA on Jan. 15, which was 0.2 percent below the five year average. The Feb. 19 storage number was 56 Bcf less than a yar ago when storage stood at 1,909 Tcf.

                 EIA reports gas storage in the producing region stood at 607 Bcf on Feb. 19, 3.2 percent below the five-year average, and 203 Bcf less than the 810 Bcf reported in storage on Jan. 15, which was 0.6 percent below the five-year average.  The Feb. 19 storage number for the producting region was down 118 Bcf from a year ago.

                 In the eastern region, EIA reports, gas storage on Feb. 19 was 935 Bcf 2.4 percent below the five-year average and down 466 Bcf from the 1,401 Tcf reported in storage on Jan.15, which was 3.8 percent below the five-year average.  The Feb. 19 storage number for the eastern region was up 49 Bcf compared with a year earlier.

                  In the western region, EIA reports, storage levels on Feb. 19 were 311 Bcf, 22.0 percent above the five-year average but down 85 Bcf from the 396 Bcf reported on Jan. 15 which was 16.1 percent above the five-year average.  The Feb. 19 storage number in the western region was up 13 Bcf from a year ago.

Excerpted from:  The American Oil & Gas Reporter- March 2010