US SPR Drawdowns Hit Practical and Legal Limits
The piece explains that while the U.S. could consider another release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to soothe prices, legal and physical constraints make abundant withdrawals unlikely: the government cannot draw down below about 252 million barrels, current stock sits around 244 million after large draws, and the salt caverns require a practical floor near 150–160 million barrels to avoid damage, leaving only limited, politically sensitive options for further withdrawals.