The US oil reserves can hold up to 714 million barrels
The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to its lowest level since 1982, holding 286.6 million barrels, or about 40% of its total capacity.
Established after the early 1970s Arab Oil Embargo caused an energy crisis, the US oil reserves can hold up to 714 million barrels and prevent a supply crunch in an emergency.
The joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran in February, followed by a shipping blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, tightened global oil supplies and pushed US gas prices above $4 a gallon.
To ease supply pressures and rising costs, the International Energy Agency pledged to release a historic 400 million barrels across 32 member countries, including the US.
The Trump administration pledged 172 million barrels of the total, with 128 million barrels released so far.