# Fuel stocks and strategic reserves

Stockpiles, tanks and underground stores of oil, gas and coal, including national reserves.

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_stocks/

Storage · Chemical · No. 88

- Storage
- Duration: Months to years
 Storage · Chemical · Foundation · Energy

In 2026 nations made the biggest emergency oil release in IEA history, leaving America's reserve at its lowest since 1982.

Chart: Illustration: Fuel stocks and strategic reserves

##### Where it comes from

Chart: Map of where it comes from

Oil sits in caverns washed out of salt domes or cut into rock, and gas is pumped into old fields; Europe's gas stores hold about 1,100 TWh.

##### Three things to know

1. The US reserve can hold 714 million barrels but was only about 40% full in October 2026 (calculated).
2. From a US presidential decision, it takes about 13 days for reserve oil to reach the market.
3. Flows through the Strait of Hormuz fell from about 20 to 2.7 million barrels a day (March to May 2026 average).

##### The journey

1. 1 **Fossil supply**Crude, refined products, gas and coal
2. 2 **Storage**Salt caverns, rock caverns, tanks, depleted fields
3. 3 **Holding**Kept for months or years as insurance
4. 4 **Drawdown**Pumps, pipelines and terminals release stock
5. 5 **Market**Calms prices and shortages in shocks
 Covered in [Storing energy: from fuel stocks to batteriesEnergy](https://www.materialinsights.org/learn/energy/storing-energy/)

##### Go deeper pick a tab to open it in full

## Other sections

- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_stocks/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_stocks/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and technology](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_stocks/sg-sci/index.md)
- [Engineering and performance](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_stocks/sg-eng/index.md)
- [Economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_stocks/sg-econ/index.md)
- [Impact and additionality](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_stocks/sg-impact/index.md)
- [What to track](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_stocks/tracking/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_fuel_stocks/links/index.md)