Optional Development Strategies for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve

摘要

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) was planned to store 750 million barrels of oil by 1991. Additional costs to reach this level are estimated at $9 billion. As a deficit reduction measure, the fiscal year 1986 budget proposes an indefinite moratorium on all future SPR activities--leaving the reserve with 489 million barrels of oil. GAO analyzed the budget proposal and five optional size strategies. The decision before the Congress on the size and fill rate of the SPR revolves very much around the value associated with the immediate need to reduce the budget deficit as contrasted with the need to pursue the objective of a 750-million-barrel reserve.