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Created during the oil crisis in the 1970s, the strategic oil reserve is a powerful geopolitical weapon in the United States and has been used to control market prices.
Nearly 400 million barrels of oil They are currently stored in the depths of caves in the southern United States, in a hidden but critical stronghold for American energy safety.
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), as it is known, covers 61 salt caves in Texas and Louisiana, and serves as a National Security Network And a powerful geopolitical weapon, describes the.
On March 28, 2025, SPR held 396.4 million barrels of gross oil, with a total capacity of 714 million barrels – although it has reached a peak of 726.6 million in 2009. These vast dome of underground salt, located between about 600 and 1200 meters deep, offer an ideal and economic storage solution that protects against leaks and contamination.
Far from asleep, oil enters and leaves regularly from SPR to support US strategic interests at the country and abroad. The reserve was created in response to the 1973 oil crisis, when an Arabic oil embargo led to global prices and exposed America’s vulnerability to external supply shocks. Following this crisis, the US government has created SPR to protect itself against similar disturbances, whether caused by natural disasters, geopolitical instability or market volatility.
Managed by the Department of Energy, SPR can release oil in national markets to relieve scarcity or lower prices. It can also supply allies during international crises. In 2005, 20.8 million barrels were released after Hurricane Katrina to compensate for disorders in the supply chain. More recently, in March 2022, the US joined 30 countries in the release of 60 million barrels-half of which from SPR-in response to Invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
However, the SPR is not free of controversy. Critics argue that the system It is outdated and is ineffective. In a remarkable error in 2000, large amounts of SPR were sold to little known companies with little experience in the oil industry. Its use for political purposes is also criticized, as when Joe Biden authorized a release in 2022, which some considered a tactic to reduce gas prices before interchange elections.
As the global energy dynamics continue to change, experts are recommending a modernization or even a large scale review of the SPR. For now, however, this vast underground network remains a crucial, though imperfect, the American energy strategy.
