US Strategic Petroleum Reserve at 283.8 Million Barrels (39.7% Capacity)
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve currently holds 283.8 million barrels of crude oil. This represents 39.7% of the reserve's 714 million barrel capacity. SPR stocks decreased by 0.79 million barrels this week.
Current Level
As of September 30, 2026
of Capacity
Max Capacity
vs. Last Year
Capacity Utilization
Historical highs and lows require a defined observation period. View EIA SPR history.
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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.
SPR History
Available observations: 2025-12-24 to 2026-09-30. Requested window: up to 104 weeks.
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SPR Frequently Asked Questions
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve holds 283.8 million barrels as of the EIA report dated 2026-09-30, which is 40% of its 714 million barrel capacity.
The SPR is being drawn down: down 0.8 million barrels week over week (-0.8 million barrels). The year-over-year comparison is unavailable.
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.
Compare observations from the same EIA SPR series over a stated date range. A low within a recent chart is not necessarily an all-time low. This page displays available observations and marks missing history or comparisons as unavailable.