July 15 (Reuters) - U.S. energy firms likely added a near-normal 43 billion cubic feet of natural gas into storage last week, according to the average estimate in a Reuters poll released on Wednesday.

The estimate compares with an injection of 47 bcf during the same week a year ago and an average increase for that week of 45 bcf over the past five years (2021-2025).

In the prior week ended July 3, energy firms added 61 bcf of gas into storage. USOILN=ECI

If correct, the forecast for the week ended July 10 would increase stockpiles to 3.026 trillion cubic feet. That figure would be about 0.6% below the same week a year ago and about 6.4% above the five-year average for the week.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is scheduled to release its weekly storage report at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT) on Thursday.

There were 98 total degree days (TDDs) last week, higher than the 30-year normal of 85 TDDs for the period, data from financial firm LSEG showed.

Total degree days measure the number of degrees a day's average temperature is above or below 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius) to estimate demand to cool or heat homes and businesses.

Reuters polled 12 analysts, whose estimates ranged from injections of 30 bcf to 62 bcf, with a median increase of 44 bcf.

Early estimates for the week ending July 17 ranged from injections of 27 bcf to 68 bcf, with an average increase of 35 bcf.

Those figures compare with an injection of 27 bcf during the same week last year and a five-year average increase of 30 bcf.

Following is a list of poll participants. All figures are in billion cubic feet:

Organization	Forecasts in bcf
LSEG	30
DTN	33
Gelber & Associates	36
Energy Aspects	37
Ritterbusch and Associates	39
Energy Ventures Analysis	40
Natural Gas Intelligence	44
Baker & O'Brien	46
Schneider Electric	47
Tradition Energy	49
SMC Report	57
C H Guernsey	62