Strategic Petroleum Reserve

America's emergency oil stash

The US government keeps oil underground in case of a shock. This page is how much is left.

287

Million barrels left
2026-08-28

How full it is How full is the stash? Most it ever held (2010) 727 What is left (2026-08-28) 287

About 39 percent of the most it ever held.

They filled it. Then they sold it — twice.

Oil in the government stash, 1982 to now Oil in the government stash, 1982 to now Million barrels of oil 200400600 Fullest: 727287 on 2026-08-28 19821989199620032010201720242026

Thirty years of filling. Then two steep drops.

A closer look at recent years

Since 2020: sold, refilled a bit, sold again Since 2020: sold, refilled a bit, sold again Million barrels of oil 200300400500600700 287 on 2026-08-28 2020202120222023202420252026Aug 2026

2022: sold a huge amount. Then they put some back. 2026: selling again.

This year, week by week

2026, week by week 2026, week by week Million barrels of oil 250300350400 415 in Mar287 on 2026-08-28 JanMarMayJul2026-08-28

Down every week since March. Still falling.

Each year: added or sold

Each year: added (blue) or sold (red) Each year: added (blue) or sold (red) Million barrels of oil -300-200-1000 201020122014201620182020202220242026

Red means they sold more than they added.

Companies still have their oil

Government stash vs oil at companies Government stash vs oil at companies Government stash Oil companies 200300400500600700 2020202220242026

Brown is oil sitting at companies. Only the government stash collapsed.

Page 2 · the Friday count

Each week, and the usual level

Now is 287. The usual level over the past five years was 415. Over the past ten years, 536.

287
Now · 2026-08-28
415
Average, past 5 years
536
Average, past 10 years
Last 52 weeks, newest first
Week endingMillion barrels
2026-08-28286.6
2026-08-21289.7
2026-08-14293.4
2026-08-07298.7
2026-07-31304.8
2026-07-24307.6
2026-07-17311.4
2026-07-10316.5
2026-07-03319.5
2026-06-26325.7
2026-06-19331.2
2026-06-12340.3
2026-06-05349.2
2026-05-29357.1
2026-05-22365.1
2026-05-15374.2
2026-05-08384.1
2026-05-01392.7
2026-04-24397.9
2026-04-17405.0
2026-04-10409.2
2026-04-03413.3
2026-03-27415.1
2026-03-20415.4
2026-03-13415.4
2026-03-06415.4
2026-02-27415.4
2026-02-20415.4
2026-02-13415.4
2026-02-06415.2
2026-01-30415.2
2026-01-23415.0
2026-01-16414.5
2026-01-09413.7
2026-01-02413.5
2025-12-26413.2
2025-12-19413.0
2025-12-12412.2
2025-12-05411.9
2025-11-28411.7
2025-11-21411.4
2025-11-14410.9
2025-11-07410.4
2025-10-31409.6
2025-10-24409.1
2025-10-17408.6
2025-10-10407.7
2025-10-03407.0
2025-09-26406.7
2025-09-19406.0
2025-09-12405.7
2025-09-05405.2

Source: US Energy Information Administration, weekly SPR stocks. Same figures in the Weekly Petroleum Status Report.