US warns over SPR capability

摘要

Ageing US infrastructure and changing pipeline flows are affecting the country’s ability to draw on its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The US energy department, which published a review of its emergency stocks management on 7 September, says the SPR could fail to meet its IEA collective response obligation in the event of a global supply shock. Crude released from SPR sites traditionally moved by pipeline to midcontinent refineries. But the midcontinent now relies on US shale oil supply and Canadian imports, and would not need SPR crude to continue operating. Pipeline capacity remains sufficient to meet the 4.42mn b/d drawdown target from four underground storage sites in Texas and Louisiana. But any shipments from the five marine terminals near the SPR sites would have to compete for dock space with domestic crudes or imports.