The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas in storage grew by 99 billion cubic feet to 1.964 trillion cubic feet for the week ended May 10.
Analysts expected a rise of 93 billion to 97 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos.
The inventory level was 4.1 percent below the five-year average of 2.047 trillion cubic feet, and 26.1 percent under last year's level of 2.658 trillion cubic feet, according to the government data.
Natural gas fell 13 cents, or 3.3 percent, to $3.94 per 1,000 cubic feet in New York.
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