U.S. natural gas consumption saw a small decrease in the week that ended Oct. 3 as gas use for power generation decreased week over week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported in its Oct. 4 "Natural Gas Weekly Update."

Total gas consumption averaged 61.1 Bcf/d for the report week, a slight decrease compared with the previous week's 61.5-Bcf/d average, the EIA reported. Gas use for power generation declined, averaging 30.2 Bcf/d from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3 compared to last report week's average of 31.9 Bcf/d.

In the residential and commercial sectors, consumption for the report week saw a 12% week-over-week increase, with mixed regional heating and cooling demand. Industrial gas consumption saw a small increase, averaging 20.0 Bcf/d compared to the previous 19.8-Bcf/d average.

Four LNG vessels with a combined carrying capacity of 14.2 Bcf left the U.S. from Sept. 27 through Oct. 3. All of the tankers left from Cheniere Energy Inc.'s Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana. One 3.8 Bcf-capacity LNG tanker was loading at Sabine Pass on Sept. 26, the EIA said. Average daily pipeline deliveries to LNG export terminals for the week stayed consistent at 2.9 Bcf/d, which is the same average the prior week, according to the EIA.

U.S. gas supply saw a small increase of 100 MMcf/d for the week, averaging 89.3 Bcf/d. Average net imports from Canada also saw a small increase, averaging about 200 MMcf/d above the previous report week's average of 4.8 Bcf/d.

Net storage injections for the week ended Sept. 28 totaled 98 Bcf, which was more than double compared to the 44 Bcf of net injections in the same week in 2017. Working gas stocks totaled 2,866 Bcf, which was about 607 Bcf below the five-year average and 636 Bcf below the level for the same period in 2017.