en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_Petroleum_Reserve_(United_States)
3 corrections found
The U.S. Department of Energy has run seven sales since 2017, selling more than 132 million barrels, or about 18.2% of what had been in the reserve.
DOE's current budget documents do not support the 132-million-barrel figure. DOE says that, to date, it has sold 119 million barrels under the post-2015 mandated-sale laws, with many previously planned sales later canceled by Congress.
Full reasoning
Current DOE documents contradict the article's more than 132 million barrels figure for congressionally mandated sales.
DOE's FY 2027 budget justification says that since 2015, Congress enacted eight laws mandating sales from FY 2017 through FY 2031, and to date DOE has sold 119 million barrels while Congress has cancelled 147 million barrels of previously mandated sales.
DOE's 2022 annual report likewise documents that Congress later canceled several planned sales for FY 2024 through FY 2027. So the article's current statement that DOE has run seven sales since 2017, selling more than 132 million barrels does not match DOE's current official accounting.
2 sources
- DOE FY 2027 Volume 3 - SPR
Since 2015, Congress has enacted eight laws mandating the sale of 358.6 MMB from FY 2017 – FY 2031. To date, DOE has sold 119 MMB and Congress has cancelled 147 MMB of previously mandated sales...
- Strategic Petroleum Reserve Annual Report for CY 2022 | Department of Energy
The FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriation Act cancelled the sales in FY 2026 and FY 2027 ... cancelled sales of 10 million barrels in FY 2024 and FY 2025 ... cancelled sales of 25 million barrels in FY 2024 and FY 2025.
According to legislation already in place, the amount of oil in the reserve could fall to as little as 238 million barrels by 2028.
This projection is outdated. DOE now says Congress has canceled many previously planned SPR sales, leaving 92.6 million barrels of mandated sales through FY2031; with current inventory around 402 million barrels, that does not imply a drop to 238 million by 2028.
Full reasoning
This sentence appears to rely on an older sales schedule that has since changed.
DOE's current FY 2027 budget says Congress has cancelled 147 million barrels of previously mandated sales and that DOE is required to sell 92.6 million barrels by the end of FY 2031. DOE's current quick-facts page shows the SPR held 402 million barrels as of April 29, 2026.
From those official numbers, even a simple subtraction shows that executing all currently required sales would leave the SPR at roughly 309 million barrels (402 - 92.6), and those remaining sales extend through FY 2031, not 2028. So the article's statement that current legislation could take the reserve down to 238 million barrels by 2028 is no longer accurate.
This conclusion is a straightforward inference from DOE's published inventory and remaining statutory-sale totals.
3 sources
- DOE FY 2027 Volume 3 - SPR
To date, DOE has sold 119 MMB and Congress has cancelled 147 MMB of previously mandated sales, meaning DOE is required to sell 92.6 MMB by the end of FY 2031.
- SPR Quick Facts | Department of Energy
Crude Oil Inventory by Site (as of April 29, 2026) ... Total ... 402 MMB ...
- Strategic Petroleum Reserve Annual Report for CY 2022 | Department of Energy
The FY 2023 Omnibus Appropriation Act cancelled the sales in FY 2026 and FY 2027 ... cancelled sales of 10 million barrels in FY 2024 and FY 2025 ... cancelled sales of 25 million barrels in FY 2024 and FY 2025.
The United States is also obligated to contribute 43.9% of petroleum in any IEA-coordinated release.
43.9% is not a fixed standing obligation. DOE's 2015 annual report says 43.9% was the U.S. share in 2015, while the IEA says each country's contribution is based on its share of total IEA oil consumption.
Full reasoning
This sentence turns a year-specific figure into a permanent rule.
DOE's 2015 SPR Annual Report explains that in an IEA coordinated response, each member country's share is proportionate to its share of total IEA oil consumption, and then adds: For the United States, this share was 43.9 percent in 2015. That is a historical figure for 2015, not a fixed obligation that applies to every future release.
The IEA's current explanation says the same thing in general terms: once a collective action is agreed, each member country's contribution is proportionate to its share of total oil consumption among IEA member countries.
So the article is misleading in stating that the United States is simply obligated to contribute 43.9% in any IEA-coordinated release.
2 sources
- Strategic Petroleum Reserve Annual Report for Calendar Year 2015 | Department of Energy
In a coordinated IEA response, each member country is responsible for a share of the total release that is proportionate to their share of total IEA oil consumption. For the United States, this share was 43.9 percent in 2015.
- Oil security and emergency response | International Energy Agency
Once the need for an IEA collective action has been agreed, each member country’s contribution is proportionate to its share of total oil consumption among IEA member countries.