The U.S. is experiencing significant withdrawals from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve, totaling 352 million barrels over the past four years, a figure representing nearly half of its capacity. This has raised concerns about the strain on the aging infrastructure, including fractured wells and leaky pumps, which are affecting the Gulf Coast salt caverns used for storage. Both the Biden and Trump administrations have ordered these releases to combat rising oil prices.

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https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/frequent-oil-draws-from-u-s-strategic-reserve-push-old-system-to-breaking-point-7fb8c421

Frequent Oil Draws From U.S. Strategic Reserve Push Old System to Breaking Point

Fracturing wells, leaky pumps and other wear-and-tear are straining the Gulf Coast salt caverns that make up the reserve

Benoît Morenne

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Aerial view of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage at the Bryan Mound site in Freeport, Texas. The Strategic Petroleum Reserve storage site in Freeport, Texas, as seen in 2022.Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The U.S. is tapping in to its national stocks of crude with abandon. The withdrawals are taking a toll on the strategic reserve system.

Just in the past four years, the Biden and Trump administrations have ordered the largest releases from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve while seeking to tamp down soaring oil prices—a total of 352 million barrels, or nearly half the capacity of the stocks.

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Frequent Oil Draws From U.S. Strategic Reserve Push Old System to Breaking Point

Frequent Oil Draws From U.S. Strategic Reserve Push Old System to Breaking Point

Fracturing wells, leaky pumps and other wear-and-tear are straining the Gulf Coast salt caverns that make up the reserve

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