Archive · 16 Aug 2026
US Strategic Petroleum Reserve falls below 300 million barrels
The United States keeps a giant underground savings account of oil called the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
It is there for emergencies, like when a war stops oil from getting to the country.
There is a war happening between the US and Iran, so the government has been taking oil out of this reserve to help people.
Now, so much oil has been taken out that the reserve has less than 300 million barrels for the first time in over 40 years.
The oil is stored in big salt caves underground in Louisiana and Texas.
Some experts say if too much oil is taken out, the caves and pipes could get damaged.
One energy advisor, Amos Hochstein, says the reserve could never recover if it gets too low.
The government's Energy Department says the caves are safe and the oil is being managed responsibly.
Lawmakers from both the Democrats and Republicans are worried too.
So people are arguing about how low the reserve can safely go.
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has fallen below 300 million barrels for the first time since the early 1980s.
Washington has released at least 172 million barrels to cushion the supply disruption caused by the war with Iran.
Once the drawdown is complete, the SPR is expected to hold about 243 million barrels.
Energy advisor Amos Hochstein and experts warned that drawing down the reserve risks damaging the salt caverns, while the Energy Department dismissed such claims as false.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed concerns about the structural stability of the 60 salt caverns in Louisiana and Texas.
- Who
- The US government, including the Department of Energy under President Donald Trump's administration, senior energy advisor Amos Hochstein, experts such as petroleum engineering professor Siddharth Misra, and Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
- What
- The Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell below 300 million barrels for the first time since the early 1980s amid rapid oil releases tied to the war with Iran, sparking concerns over cavern integrity and emergency readiness.
- When
- Reported Saturday in a CNBC report, citing experts; the US-Iran war began earlier this year.
- Where
- United States; the reserve's oil is stored in 60 salt caverns thousands of feet underground at four major sites along the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Texas.
- Why
- To address the supply disruption caused by the war with Iran, Washington released at least 172 million barrels from the reserve.
Experts and critics
Energy Department and administration
Minimum safe reserve level
Experts and critics
Amos Hochstein calls the 70-million-barrel floor 'nonsense' and warns the reserve would be depleted 'to the point of never resurrecting it'; experts put the practical operational floor at 250-300 million barrels.
Energy Department and administration
The Energy Department says roughly 70 million barrels must remain in the reserve to safely manage the caverns.
Risk of cavern damage
Experts and critics
Hochstein and experts like Siddharth Misra warn that dropping below 300 million barrels can physically damage the salt caverns, leaving cavern integrity and operational capability at elevated risk.
Energy Department and administration
Energy Department spokesman Ben Dietderich says claims that the caverns are at risk of collapsing are false, because the caverns are always full and only the ratio of oil and water changes.
- Current SPR Level
- Below 300 million barrels (first time since early 1980s)
- Total Released
- At least 172 million barrels
- Projected Level After Drawdown
- About 243 million barrels
- DOE Stated Minimum for Caverns
- Roughly 70 million barrels
- Number of Storage Caverns
- 60 salt caverns
- Storage Locations
- Four major sites along the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Texas
- Expert Operational Floor
- Between 250 million and 300 million barrels
- Prior Record Release
- 180 million barrels under Biden in response to Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine