US Strategic Petroleum Reserve at Lowest Level Since 1982
The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is at its lowest level since 1982, holding just 289.7 million barrels after years of releases by former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.
The reserve's current state is a concern for oil market watchers, as it may limit the government's ability to calm jittery markets during a crisis.
Siddharth Misra, a professor of petroleum engineering at Texas A&M University, warns that operating below 250 million barrels pushes the infrastructure into a 'dangerous zone', compromising the reserve's core mission of supplying the market rapidly during a crisis.
The Department of Energy source confirms that the minimum operating level is 70 million barrels. However, Misra notes that this is not necessarily the practical minimum for safe operations.