The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas in storage grew by 91 billion cubic feet to 2.438 trillion cubic feet for the week ended June 14.
Analysts expected a rise of 88 billion to 92 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.
The inventory level was 1.9 percent below the five-year average of 2.485 trillion cubic feet, and 18.7 percent below last year's level of 2.997 trillion cubic feet, according to the government data.
Natural gas futures fell 4 cents to $3.92 per 1,000 cubic feet in New York.