In a move aimed at bolstering national energy security, the United States needs to push forward with plans to replenish its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), which has been significantly depleted in recent years. President Donald Trump’s administration has prioritized refilling the reserve, signaling a shift from previous drawdowns to a strategy focused on long-term preparedness amid global uncertainties.
Update:
The U.S. Department of Energy today announced a new solicitation to acquire one million barrels of oil for delivery to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve’s Bryan Mound site
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced a new solicitation to purchase one million barrels of crude oil for delivery to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) at the Bryan Mound site. The solicitation is in accordance with the Working Families Tax Cut which President Trump signed into law earlier this year. The legislation appropriated $171 million to begin refilling the SPR.
“After the previous administration recklessly drained the SPR for political purposes, President Trump promised to refill and manage this national security asset more responsibly,” said Secretary Wright. “Thanks to the President and Congress, we are able to begin the process of refilling the SPR. While this process won’t be complete overnight, these actions are an important step in strengthening our energy security and reversing the costly and irresponsible energy policies of the last administration.”
This announcement delivers on President Trump’s promise to rebuild America’s strategic strength and restore the reserve to full operational capacity. Currently, the SPR holds just over 400 million barrels of its 700 million barrel capacity.
The SPR was severely weakened by the previous administration’s reckless 180-million-barrel drawdown in 2022, which incurred nearly $280 million in costs, delayed critical infrastructure maintenance and put unprecedented wear and tear on storage and injection facilities.
The solicitation invites bids for an initial purchase of one million barrels of oil through a spot-price-indexed contract, with deliveries scheduled for December 2025 and January 2026. All notices of acquisition limit purchases to U.S. companies or U.S. subsidiaries of international companies with crude oil sourced from domestic production.
Bids for the solicitation are due no later than 11:00 A.M. CT on October 28, 2025.
For more information on the SPR please visit Infographic: Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Fact Sheet: Strategic Petroleum Reserve
This initiative comes as the SPR’s inventory stands at approximately 407.74 million barrels as of October 10, 2025, far below its maximum capacity of around 714 million barrels.
The Announcement and Key Details
The push to restock the SPR gained momentum following Trump’s return to the White House after the 2024 election. During his campaign, Trump pledged to restore the reserve, criticizing the Biden administration for releasing nearly 200 million barrels in 2022 to combat rising oil prices triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In March 2025, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright formally outlined the administration’s ambitions, estimating that it would require about $20 billion to purchase roughly 301 million barrels of U.S. crude oil. This would bring the SPR close to 700 million barrels, though not quite to its absolute peak capacity of 727 million barrels.
Wright emphasized that refilling the reserve is a national security imperative, as the current low levels—hovering around 395 million barrels at the time of his announcement—could undermine global confidence in U.S. readiness for oil supply disruptions.
The plan includes canceling remaining congressionally mandated sales from the reserve to preserve existing stocks and minimize strain on storage facilities.
Congressional proposals have varied, with the House passing legislation for $1.32 billion in petroleum purchases plus $218 million for maintenance, while the Senate suggested $660.5 million for purchases alongside the same maintenance funding.
However, the timeline for full replenishment is measured in years, not months. Due to logistical constraints, the Department of Energy (DOE) can only acquire about 3 million barrels per month.
At this pace, restoring the SPR to pre-2022 levels could take over five years, and reaching 700 million barrels might require nearly a decade.
Progress has been incremental; from 2023 to 2025, the DOE repurchased 59 million barrels at an average price of $76 per barrel and secured an additional 140 million by halting mandated sales.
As of late September 2025, the inventory had climbed to 406.7 million barrels, reflecting ongoing but slow additions.
Challenges have tempered the pace. In June 2025, the DOE announced a seven-month delay in significant repurchasing efforts, citing rising oil prices above the $79 per barrel target, budgetary limitations, and infrastructure issues.
The SPR’s aging salt caverns, mostly built between 1975 and 1991, have suffered from rapid drawdowns, leading to compaction, cracking, and reduced capacity.
Over 70% of the equipment is beyond its serviceable life, necessitating more than $100 million in repairs before full-scale refilling can accelerate.
These geological and maintenance hurdles, described as caverns behaving like “gooey Play-Doh,” underscore the complexity of the task.
Impact on the Oil Market
Restocking the SPR is poised to have notable ripple effects on global and domestic oil markets. By increasing government purchases, the initiative could boost demand for crude, particularly light sweet varieties suitable for the reserve’s storage sites.
Analysts suggest that a serious refill effort—potentially involving hundreds of millions of barrels—could profoundly influence U.S. crude markets, supporting higher production levels and providing a floor for prices.
This comes at a time when West Texas Intermediate (WTI) prices have fluctuated, recently climbing above $70 per barrel amid Middle East tensions. And are now down
On the positive side, a fuller SPR enhances energy security, potentially stabilizing markets during disruptions like geopolitical conflicts or natural disasters. Canceling mandated sales removes additional supply from the market, which could further tighten availability and lift prices in the short term.
However, the gradual pace of purchases—limited to avoid spiking costs—may mitigate immediate impacts, unlike the 2022 releases that lowered gasoline prices by 17 to 42 cents per gallon. Inversely, restocking could lead to modestly higher fuel costs for consumers if demand outpaces supply growth.
Long-term, the effort aligns with Trump’s pro-oil policies, potentially encouraging domestic drilling and reducing reliance on imports. Yet, with global demand projections uncertain—driven by factors like China’s growth and electric vehicle adoption—the market’s response will depend on the scale and speed of implementation. If Congress approves the full $20 billion request, it could signal a stronger U.S. commitment to fossil fuels, influencing investor sentiment and futures trading.
A huge commitment to filling the SPR sooner rather than later would help the oil and gas industry by keeping some rigs moving and jobs on line. This would be a huge win right now for the White House at a time when oil companies are bleeding jobs and talent. Once we return from the Schumer shutdown, hopefully, Secretary Chris Wright can secure budget funds to get this project underway.
As the administration navigates these challenges, the SPR refill represents a critical step toward resilience in a volatile energy landscape. Energy News Beat will continue monitoring developments as funding decisions and market dynamics unfold.
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