Strategic Petroleum Reserve hits 44-year low

Strategic Petroleum Reserve crude oil inventories salt caverns energy security oil supply disruption

The United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) has fallen to 293.4 million barrels, the lowest level recorded since December 1982. This decline follows an emergency drawdown program authorized by President Donald Trump to mitigate global supply shocks caused by hostilities with Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

The reserve, which consists of 60 underground salt caverns in Texas and Louisiana, currently holds approximately 41 percent of its 714-million-barrel total capacity. The current inventory includes 100.9 million barrels of sweet crude and 192.5 million barrels of sour crude.

Experts have raised concerns regarding the structural integrity of the storage facilities. Amos Hochstein, a senior energy advisor, warned that dropping below 300 million barrels could physically damage the salt caverns. However, the Department of Energy has denied these claims, stating that the caverns remain full and only the ratio of oil to water within them changes during the release process.

Entities

Amos Hochstein · Department of Energy · Donald Trump · OPEC · Strait of Hormuz · Strategic Petroleum Reserve · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 2 SOURCES] The SPR has a total authorized storage capacity of 714 million barrels. dnyuz.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk
[● 2 SOURCES] The caverns remain full, with only the ratio of oil to water changing during releases. dnyuz.com · fortune.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The current inventory level of 293.4 million barrels is the lowest since December 1982. alkhabaralyemeni.net · sputniknews.cn · www.ibtimes.co.uk
[● 3 SOURCES] The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) fell to 293.4 million barrels as of August 14, 2026. alkhabaralyemeni.net · sputniknews.cn · www.ibtimes.co.uk
[● 2 SOURCES] Dropping below 300 million barrels could physically damage the underground salt caverns used for storage. dnyuz.com · fortune.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has contracted sharply due to naval tensions. www.ibtimes.co.uk
[● 2 SOURCES] President Trump authorized the release of up to 172 million barrels to manage supply disruptions. dnyuz.com · www.ibtimes.co.uk