The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, created after the 1973 OAPEC oil embargo, is the world's largest crude oil storage facility holding up to 714 million barrels. It serves as a buffer against oil supply shocks and has become a key energy policy tool, though it has physical limits on how much oil can be safely removed.
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world's largest crude oil storage facility with capacity for 714 million barrels, was established following OAPEC's 1973 oil embargo to protect against supply disruptions and price shocks. Created using underground salt dome storage, the SPR has become a key energy policy tool, though it has operational limits on how much oil can be safely withdrawn.