July 29 (Reuters) - Natural gas producer Chesapeake

Energy ( CHK ) on Monday reported a second-quarter loss,

compared to a year-ago profit, dented by persistently weak

prices for the commodity.

U.S. natural gas prices have fallen about 22% this year amid

lukewarm demand due to hotter-than-expected winter and a

build-up in storage.

In response to the declining prices, Chesapeake, along with

rivals like EQT and Coterra Energy ( CTRA ), had

curtailed their production earlier this year.

Chesapeake, which is on the cusp of becoming the biggest

natural gas producer pending its acquisition of Southwestern

Energy ( SWN ), said production during the April-June quarter

fell to 2,745 million cubic feet per day, compared with 3,653

mcf/d, last year.

The company's net loss was $227 million, or $1.73 per share,

for the three months ended June 30, compared with a profit of

$391 million, or $2.73 per share, in the year-ago quarter.