SPR Draws Down to 285.4 Million Barrels (40.0% Capacity)
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve currently holds 285.4 million barrels of crude oil. This represents 40.0% of the reserve's 714 million barrel capacity. The government released 1.24 million barrels this week.
Current Level
As of September 10, 2026
of Capacity
Max Capacity
vs. Last Year
Capacity Utilization
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About the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve is the world's largest government-owned emergency oil stockpile. Created in 1975 after the Arab oil embargo, the SPR is stored in underground salt caverns along the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana. It provides a strategic buffer against oil supply disruptions and can release up to 4.4 million barrels per day during emergencies.
2-Year SPR History
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SPR Frequently Asked Questions
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve holds 285.4 million barrels as of the EIA report dated 2026-09-10, which is 40% of its 714 million barrel capacity.
The SPR is being drawn down: down 1.2 million barrels week over week (-1.2 million barrels), and 0.0 million barrels year over year.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is the world's largest government-owned emergency crude oil stockpile. Located in underground salt caverns along the Gulf Coast, it was created in 1975 after the Arab oil embargo to provide a buffer against supply disruptions.
The SPR has a maximum storage capacity of 714 million barrels across four sites in Texas and Louisiana. At full capacity, the reserve holds enough oil to replace about 2 months of total US crude imports.
SPR releases occur during energy emergencies (like hurricanes disrupting Gulf Coast refineries), geopolitical crises affecting global supply, or as policy tools to address high fuel prices. Major releases have occurred during the Gulf War, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The SPR reached its lowest level since 1984 in late 2022, falling below 400 million barrels following large emergency releases. This represented about 55% of maximum capacity and raised concerns about emergency preparedness.