US energy firms withdrew 54 billion cubic feet of natural gas from storage in the week ended March 20, exceeding expectations for a 44 bcf draw. This compares with a 33 bcf injection during the same period last year and an average decline of 21 bcf over the past five years. Total stockpiles fell to 1.829 trillion cubic feet, standing about 5.2% above year-ago levels and roughly 0.8% above the five-year average. In the previous week, utilities had added 35 bcf to storage.