Storage operators put a net 96 Bcf into natural gas inventories in the Lower 48 during the week ending June 8, ahead of the five-year-average injection of 91 Bcf, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported.

The build brought total working gas supply in the Lower 48 to 1,913 Bcf, or 785 Bcf below the year-ago level and 507 Bcf below the five-year average.

By region:

* In the East, stockpiles were up 26 Bcf on the week at 377 Bcf, 22% under the year-ago level.

* In the Midwest, stockpiles grew 31 Bcf at 372 Bcf, 41% below a year earlier.

* In the Mountain region, inventories rose 4 Bcf at 125 Bcf, 29% below the year-ago level.

* In the Pacific region, stockpiles were up 8 Bcf at 239 Bcf, roughly 13% below a year earlier.

* In the South Central region, stockpiles were up 27 Bcf at 800 Bcf, down 29% from a year earlier.

Of that total, 252 Bcf of gas was in salt cavern facilities and 547 Bcf was in nonsalt cavern facilities. Working gas stocks grew 3% in salt cavern facilities from the previous week and rose 4% in nonsalt cavern facilities.