An announcement is a commitment, not a movement of oil. This ledger keeps the two apart: the announced column is what was pledged, the delivered column is what official sources record as having moved. Two entries need care. The G7 statement of 2 October 2026 implements the March 2026 commitments and must not be added to the 400 million barrels announced in March. The United States sale of December 2021 is both a congressionally mandated sale and the sale component of the November 2021 coordinated release; it appears in both entries and must be counted once.
| Date | Actor | Type | Announced (million barrels) | Delivered (million barrels) | Status | Reason and notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-07 | IEA member governments | release | not stated | 325.0 | ongoing | Continuing Strait of Hormuz crisis and diesel tightness, following the G7 statement of 2 October 2026. No new volume. Members supported completing the remaining releases of the March 2026 action as soon as possible, and the IEA said full release of stocks pledged but not yet released would bring approximately 100 to market. Prioritisation of diesel stocks to the extent possible; a later IEA Governing Board statement records specific plans including over 20 of diesel as soon as possible. Delivered to date under the March action was approximately 325. | IEA, Statement by IEA Executive Director on meeting of IEA Member governments on 7 October 2026; IEA, IEA Governing Board statement on energy markets and security |
| 2026-10-02 | G7 leaders, coordinated through the IEA | release | 100.0 | not stated | committed | Unprecedented oil market volatility and price surges threatening economic stability, and tightness in diesel in particular. Crude and diesel, with a frontloaded substantial diesel release within the first 20 days by G7 members and partners; the statement gives no numeric diesel split. Overlap note: the statement frames this as implementing the March 2026 commitments, taking into account commitments that have already been fulfilled, and asks the IEA to monitor full implementation of those March commitments, so this 100 should not be added to the 400 of March 2026 as a clean incremental volume. | G7 Leaders' Statement on global energy security and market stability, 2 October 2026, via the European Council |
| 2026-09-29 | United States (DOE) | exchange | 40.0 | not stated | ongoing | Continuing execution of the 172 million barrel commitment of March 2026, against short term supply disruption. Crude from Big Hill and Bryan Mound. New request for proposals for up to 40.0, bids due 6 October 2026, deliveries under awarded exchanges scheduled for November and December 2026. DOE states the five previous solicitations had collectively awarded more than 133 across four completed exchanges, with return of the borrowed barrels plus additional premium barrels. | DOE, The United States Energy Department Continues Execution of Strategic Reserve Release Commitments |
| 2026-03-11 | IEA member countries (32 members, unanimous) | release | 400.0 | 325.0 | ongoing | War in the Middle East beginning 28 February 2026; crude and product flows through the Strait of Hormuz at less than 10 percent of pre conflict levels, described by the IEA as the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market. Commitments as of 15 March 2026 in the IEA regional table were government stocks 271.7, obligated industry stocks 116.6 and other 23.6, with the total split 72 percent crude and 28 percent oil products. Delivered is approximately 325 as of 7 October 2026 per the IEA; a later IEA Governing Board statement says approximately 330 released, about 100 still to come, and that the total to be released will exceed the original 400 because some members released more than pledged. | IEA, IEA Member countries to carry out largest ever oil stock release; IEA, Update on IEA collective action decision of 11 March 2026; IEA, Statement by IEA Executive Director on meeting of IEA Member governments on 7 October 2026 |
| 2026-03-11 | United States (SPR) | exchange | 172.0 | 17.5 | ongoing | US share of the IEA collective action of 11 March 2026. Crude only, from Bryan Mound, West Hackberry and Bayou Choctaw in the first tranche, to be delivered over about 120 days. DOE states 172.0 for the United States; the IEA regional table lists Americas government stocks at 172.2, which appears to be the origin of the 172.2 figure, and both are recorded here. Delivered is a partial figure only: 17.5 released between the weeks ending 20 March and 24 April 2026 per EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report data. Premium return terms: the exchange requires return of the borrowed oil plus additional premium barrels; DOE said on 11 March 2026 that the United States had arranged to more than replace the drawdown with approximately 200 within the next year, described as 20 percent more barrels than drawn down, at no cost to taxpayers, and DOE stated on 29 September 2026 that earlier 2026 exchanges achieved a 25 percent premium in returned barrels. | DOE, United States to Release 172 Million Barrels of Oil From the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; DOE, Energy Department Initiates Strategic Petroleum Reserve Emergency Exchange, 13 March 2026; EIA, DOE has released 17.5 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve since March, 30 April 2026 |
| 2025-10-21 | United States (DOE) | purchase | 1.0 | not stated | committed | Restart of direct refill under the Working Families Tax Cut appropriation of 171 million dollars, with the SPR then holding just over 400 of about 700 capacity. Crude. Solicitation 21 October 2025, awards 12 November 2025 for approximately 1.0, deliveries scheduled 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2026 to Bryan Mound. Not yet delivered at the award date. | DOE, Energy Department Awards Contracts to Begin Refilling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2024-11-08 | United States (DOE) | purchase | 2.4 | 59.0 | ongoing | Refill funded from 2022 emergency sale revenues; DOE states all funding allocated for purchases had been fully used. Crude. Programme total entry: the final solicitation was 2.4 for delivery April to May 2025 to Bryan Mound. Delivered or contracted by November 2024 was 59.0 directly purchased at an average under 76 dollars per barrel, plus 140.0 retained by cancelling mandated sales scheduled for FY24 to FY26, giving nearly 200 purchased or retained since 2022, and about 5.0 of accelerated exchange returns. The DOE headline wording says 200 delivered or contracted; the body breakdown is used here. | DOE, Biden-Harris Administration Makes Final Purchase for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2023-12-26 | United States (DOE) | purchase | not stated | 13.8 | ongoing | Three part replenishment strategy: direct purchases, exchange returns with a premium, and cancellation of mandated sales. DOE states 140 of mandated sales for fiscal years 2024 to 2027 had been cancelled. Crude. Cumulative calendar 2023 entry: 13.83 purchased during 2023 at an average of 75.63 dollars per barrel, plus nearly 4.0 of accelerated exchange returns. The 26 December 2023 award itself was 3.0 for March 2024 delivery at 77.31 dollars per barrel. | DOE, Biden-Harris Administration Continues to Secure a Good Deal for Taxpayers as Replenishment of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Progresses Further |
| 2022-12-16 | United States (DOE) | purchase | 3.0 | not stated | committed | Start of the replenishment programme after the 2022 emergency sale, buying below the average price received for the 2022 emergency sales, stated by DOE as about 96 dollars per barrel. Crude. Fixed price pilot solicitation for up to 3.0, deliveries to the Big Hill site in February 2023. Delivered total not stated in the page opened. | DOE, DOE Announces Repurchase of Oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2022-04-07 | Japan (METI) | release | 15.0 | not stated | committed | Japanese contribution to the second IEA collective action of 2022. 9.0 from national reserves, reported as the first release from national reserves under the petroleum stockpiling law since the reserves were established in 1978, plus 6.0 of additional privately held reserves released from 16 April 2022 by lowering stockpile requirements by three days. Combined with the March action, Japan's distinct 2022 total is 22.5. | METI announcement as reported by S and P Global Platts, via Hellenic Shipping News |
| 2022-04-01 | IEA member countries | release | 120.0 | not stated | committed | Strains in oil markets from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Second collective action of 2022. Crude and products over six months, of which the United States about 60.0 as part of its 180.0 emergency sale. Across the two 2022 actions combined (182.7 on the IEA update page), about three quarters came from public stocks and about one quarter from lowered industry obligations, and nearly 50 was in the form of oil products. | IEA, IEA confirms member country contributions to second collective action; IEA, An update on Member Countries Contributions to IEA Collective Actions |
| 2022-04 | South Korea (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) | release | 7.2 | not stated | committed | Korean contribution to the second IEA collective action of 2022. Split not stated in the sources used. 7.23 plus the 4.42 of March 2022 gives 11.65, which is the combined 2022 total for Korea that Yonhap reported in March 2026. The figure is approximate. | IEA second action country contributions as reported in secondary coverage; combined total reported by Yonhap in 2026 |
| 2022-03-31 | United States (SPR) | sale | 180.0 | 180.0 | completed | Global supply disruption from Russia's war on Ukraine, as a bridge until domestic production increased, and to lower energy costs. Crude, emergency sale at 1 million barrels per day over six months. DOE states on 3 November 2022 that the final contract awards completed the 31 March announcement and that the release provided approximately 180 of supply, so delivered is recorded as approximately 180. | DOE, DOE Announces Final Contract Awards From President Biden's Emergency Release From the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2022-03-05 | South Korea (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy) | release | 4.4 | not stated | committed | Korean contribution to the IEA March 2022 action, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Crude. | Korea JoongAng Daily (Yonhap), reporting the ministry |
| 2022-03-04 | Japan (METI) | release | 7.5 | not stated | committed | Japanese contribution to the IEA March 2022 action. Privately held reserves, crude and products, released by lowering the mandatory stockpile from 70 days to 66 days for 10 March to 8 April 2022. | METI announcement as reported by S and P Global Platts, via Hellenic Shipping News |
| 2022-03-01 | IEA member countries | release | 60.0 | not stated | committed | Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tightening oil markets. Crude and products, from public stocks and from lowered industry stockholding obligations. Agreed at 60.0 on 1 March, commitments confirmed at 61.7 on 4 March; a later IEA update describes the March decision as 62.7. Official IEA pages give both 61.7 and 62.7, and both are recorded here. | IEA, IEA confirms individual contributions to collective action to release oil stocks in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine |
| 2021-12-23 | South Korea (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; KNOC distribution) | loan | 3.2 | not stated | committed | Korean contribution to the US led coordinated consumer release of November 2021, against high oil prices. 2.08 of crude to be lent to local refiners for one year, and 1.09 of oil products to be sold by bidding. Total 3.17, about 3.3 percent of government stockpiles of 97. Release January to March 2022. | Korea JoongAng Daily, reporting the ministry announcement |
| 2021-12-17 | United States (SPR) | sale | 18.0 | 18.1 | completed | Section 30204 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018; also the accelerated sale component of the 23 November 2021 release. Crude, congressionally mandated. Notice 17 December 2021, awards January 2022, deliveries scheduled 1 February to 31 March 2022. DOE states this sale completed the Section 30204 requirement of 30.0 for fiscal years 2022 to 2025, which means earlier tranches under the same section are not itemised in this ledger. | DOE, DOE Announces Contract Awards for Crude Oil Sales from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2021-11-23 | India (Government of India) | release | 5.0 | not stated | committed | High oil prices and concern that producer supply was being held below demand; the release was to happen in parallel and in consultation with the United States, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Crude. The Press Information Bureau records the agreement to release, not a delivered volume. | Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, 23 November 2021 |
| 2021-11-23 | United States (SPR) | exchange | 50.0 | not stated | ongoing | Post pandemic supply failing to keep pace with demand, and high prices, in parallel with other major consumers including India. 32.0 by exchange, with return of the volume received plus a premium in fiscal years 2022 to 2024, and 18.0 as an accelerated congressionally mandated sale under Section 30204 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018. The 18.0 sale component is also the sale recorded at 2021-12-17 in this ledger, so the two entries must not be added together. | DOE, Summary of 50 Million Barrel Release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2021-09-14 | China (National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration) | sale | 7.4 | not stated | committed | First public auction from Chinese state reserves, to ease raw material price pressure. Crude in five lots (Qatar Marine, Forties, Oman, Murban and Upper Zakum), restricted to refiners for their own feedstock use. Auction held 24 September 2021. Delivered volume not established; secondary coverage differs, with one account giving 7.34 sold. | S and P Global Platts reporting of the NFSRA statement, via Hellenic Shipping News |
| 2021-04-16 | United States (SPR) | sale | 9.0 | not stated | committed | Section 404 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, the revenue based SPR modernisation sale authority, FY2021 tranche. Sour crude, up to 9.0, deliveries planned June 2021. Delivered total not stated in the page opened. | DOE, DOE Announces Notice of Sale of Crude Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2021-02-11 | United States (SPR) | sale | 10.1 | 10.1 | completed | Statutory mandates. Crude, congressionally mandated. Notice 11 February 2021, awards March 2021, deliveries April to May 2021. 5.0 under Section 403(a)(4) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 and 5.1 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, together the FY2021 requirement. | DOE, U.S. Department of Energy Announces Contract Awards for Sale of Crude Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2019-08-21 | United States (SPR) | sale | 10.0 | not stated | committed | Section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018; proceeds to the Treasury in FY2020. Crude, congressionally mandated, up to 10.0, deliveries planned October to November 2019. Delivered total not stated in the page opened. | DOE, Energy Department Announces Congressionally Mandated Notice of Sale |
| 2018-08-20 | United States (SPR) | sale | 11.0 | 11.0 | completed | Statutory mandates. Crude, congressionally mandated. Notice 20 August 2018, awards September 2018, deliveries October to November 2018. 6.0 was the Cures Act FY2019 requirement and 5.0 the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 FY2019 requirement. | DOE, Department of Energy Announces Contract Awards for Sale of Crude Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2017-08-15 | United States (SPR) | sale | 14.0 | not stated | committed | Statutory mandates. Crude, congressionally mandated. The 14.0 comprised 9.0 under the Cures Act for FY2018 and 5.0 under Section 403 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 for FY2018. Delivered total not stated in the page opened. | DOE, DOE Plans Sale of Crude Oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2017-02-21 | United States (SPR) | sale | 10.0 | 10.0 | completed | Section 5010 of the 21st Century Cures Act, FY2017 tranche of a 25 million barrel, three year mandate; revenue to the Treasury general fund. Sour crude, congressionally mandated. Notice 21 February 2017, awards March 2017, deliveries scheduled May to June 2017. | DOE, Department of Energy Announces Contract Awards for Sale of Crude Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve |
| 2011-06-23 | IEA member countries (28 members) | release | 60.0 | not stated | completed | Libyan supply disruption; the IEA estimated 132 million barrels removed from the market by end May 2011, plus seasonal demand and risk to the economic recovery. At 2 million barrels per day over an initial 30 days. The United States to supply half in crude; other members in crude or products (EIA). | IEA, IEA makes 60 million barrels of oil available to market to offset Libyan disruption |
| 2011-06-23 | United States (SPR) | sale | 30.0 | 30.6 | completed | Libyan disruption, US share of the IEA action of 23 June 2011. Light sweet crude. 28 contracts to 15 companies; DOE states 100 percent fulfilled by 2 September 2011. Delivered exceeded the announced plan. | DOE, Summary of 2011 SPR Sale |
| 2011-06-23 | Japan | release | 7.9 | not stated | committed | Libyan disruption, Japanese share of the IEA action of 23 June 2011. Reported as a 50/50 split between crude and products. | Energy Intelligence, 29 June 2011 |
| 2011-03-14 | Japan (METI) | release | not stated | not stated | completed | Great East Japan Earthquake, to ensure supply of gasoline and gas oil to disaster areas. Privately held crude and products. Announced in days, not barrels: 3 days on 14 March 2011, then a further 22 days, total 25 days; the source gives the equivalent as 10.5 million kilolitres, not converted here. | Asia Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC), The Impact on Oil Distribution by the Great East Japan Earthquake |
| 2005-09-02 | IEA member countries (26 members, with the EU) | release | 60.0 | not stated | completed | Hurricane Katrina disruption to Gulf of Mexico supply, later also Hurricane Rita. Initial response 2.1 million barrels per day, 94 percent stockdraw, 3 percent demand restraint, 3 percent increased indigenous production. Stockdraw of nearly 2.0 million barrels per day comprised crude 1.289 and products 0.683 (gasoline 0.369, middle distillates 0.276, fuel oil 0.038). The IEA conclusion states nearly all barrels were provided through stocks and increased indigenous production, with no exact delivered total. | IEA, Contributions of IEA Member Countries to the Hurricane Katrina Oil Supply Disruption; IEA, Conclusion of IEA Collective Action |
| 2005-09-02 | United States (SPR) | sale | 30.0 | 11.0 | completed | Presidential finding of a severe energy supply interruption after Hurricane Katrina, as part of the IEA action. Crude. 30.0 was offered in the Notice of Sale of 6 September 2005; acceptable bids covered 11.0. Deliveries began 26 September 2005 and final deliveries were made 4 January 2006. | DOE Office of Inspector General, Audit Report IG-0747 |
| 2005-09-02 | United States (SPR) | loan | not stated | 9.8 | completed | Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Crude loans to refiners whose scheduled deliveries were cut. Six loans approved, requests began 29 August 2005. Combined with the 2005 sale, the total US SPR response was 20.8. DOE OIG records repayment with 0.5 of premium barrels (CRS). | DOE Office of Inspector General, Audit Report IG-0747 |
| 2000-09-22 | United States (SPR) | exchange | 30.0 | 30.0 | completed | Low heating oil inventories, down more than 20 percent nationally, 50 percent on the East Coast and more than 60 percent in New England. Crude, over 30 days, return with a premium. | The White House, Remarks by the President on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, 23 September 2000; EIA |
| 2000-07-10 | United States (DOE) | purchase | 2.0 | 2.0 | completed | Buffer against Northeast winter heating oil shortages, sized at about 10 days of resupply time. Product reserve: No. 2 heating oil for the Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve, acquired by exchanging SPR crude because no appropriation was available. DOE states all heating oil had been delivered by 13 October 2000. | DOE, Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve history |
| 1991-01-17 | IEA member countries | release | not stated | not stated | completed | Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm; Iraqi and Kuwaiti supply loss of about 4.3 million barrels per day. Plan rate 2.5 million barrels per day in total, of which stockdraw 2.0, demand restraint 0.4, and fuel switching plus surge production 0.1 (IEA history volume). The plan was expressed as a rate, not a total. | IEA, The History of the IEA 1974 to 1994, Vol. II |
| 1991-01 | United States (DOE, Strategic Petroleum Reserve) | sale | 33.8 | 17.3 | completed | Operation Desert Storm, under the IEA coordinated plan. Crude only. Bids were accepted for only part of the offer because sour crude bids were low. | Congressional Research Service, The Strategic Petroleum Reserve: Authorization, Operation, and Drawdown Policy (R42460) |