During the week ending October 17, US energy companies deposited 87 billion cubic feet of natural gas into storage, surpassing market projections. Analysts had anticipated a build of 83 billion cubic feet, making this increase not only larger than expected but also above the historical average. The rise, influenced by milder weather conditions, pushed inventory levels to 0.9% above those of the previous year and 4.5% higher than the five-year average, signifying a substantial fuel supply.