HOUSTON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) — Working gas storage in the contiguous United States was 3,369 billion cubic feet (bcf) in the week ending Oct. 8, a net increase of 81 bcf, or 2.46 percent from the previous week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Thursday in a report.

Stocks were 501 bcf less than at this time last year and 174 bcf below the five-year average of 3,543 bcf, according to the data from the Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report.

At 3,369 bcf, the total working gas storage decreased by 12.9 percent from this time last year, or down 4.9 percent below the five-year average, said the report.

The total working gas remains within the five-year historical range, the report added.

The storage of working gas usually turns to decrease in November and continues to drop in April when heating season ends in the country, according to previous data.

Working gas is defined as the amount of natural gas stored underground that can be withdrawn for use. Its storage capacity can be measured in two ways: design capacity and demonstrated maximum working gas capacity.

The contiguous United States consists of the 48 adjoining states of the United States, plus the District of Columbia, and excludes the non-contiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii, and all off-shore insular areas.