Fact #321: May 24, 2004
Days of Reserves Stored in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
In 1985, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) could have replaced 115 days worth of oil imports. Rising imports have caused that figure to be cut in half; in 2003, there were 57 days worth of total net imports of petroleum that could be met by the SPR in an emergency.
SPR Stocks as Days' Worth of Net Imports, 1977–2003
Supporting Information
| Number of Days | |
|---|---|
| 1977 | 1 |
| 1978 | 8 |
| 1979 | 1 |
| 1980 | 17 |
| 1981 | 43 |
| 1982 | 68 |
| 1983 | 88 |
| 1984 | 96 |
| 1985 | 115 |
| 1986 | 94 |
| 1987 | 91 |
| 1988 | 85 |
| 1989 | 81 |
| 1990 | 82 |
| 1991 | 86 |
| 1992 | 83 |
| 1993 | 77 |
| 1994 | 73 |
| 1995 | 75 |
| 1996 | 67 |
| 1997 | 62 |
| 1998 | 59 |
| 1999 | 57 |
| 2000 | 52 |
| 2001 | 50 |
| 2002 | 58 |
| 2003 | 57 |
|
Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA), Annual Energy Review 2002, Table 5.15. 2003 data estimated using data from the EIA Petroleum Supply Monthly, March 2004, Tables S1 and S2. | |
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