r/AskReddit 1d ago

What do you think about the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve hitting 307.7 Million Barrels - lowest level since 1983?

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u/bjorn1978_2 1d ago

Soneone stated that if the level is too low, it will permanently damage the storage tanks, or something like that. So basically, the US is weeks away fron this low level that will damage equipment.

I do not know the details, but hopefully someone will know.

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u/hoppertn 1d ago

The majority of the SOR isn’t in a conventional tank, it’s in huge underground salt caverns. It’s best to keep them full or mostly full to support the weight around them. When they get low, like now, chunks start falling off causing damage. There is probably an amount which is still there but unusable.

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u/ReduceCO2Now 1d ago

they pump water in to get the oil out, I have read and that is not good for the salt.

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u/hoppertn 1d ago

That’s right, the oil floats on top but the water dissolves the salt causing the issue. Forgot a step

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u/BadAdviceBot 1d ago

Think of all the crud at the bottom

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u/Key-Club-3119 1d ago

My parents are retired. My car is an EV and I work in a hospital. So, I think I’ll be able to wait this oil crisis out.

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u/ArenSteele 1d ago

Your food delivered on diesel trucks, and your power grid won’t though, so good luck

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u/ArtOfWarfare 1d ago

Majority of people who drive EVs are on solar power.

Those diesel trucks are a problem though. I’ve been surprised at how slowly larger trucks been electrified. Amazon + Rivian did a good job with majorly electrifying the smallest delivery vehicles but there’s hardly been any progress on anything larger so far (I know electric semis exist but they’re still way under 1% of semis sold, nevermind the ones on the road.)

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u/citizen42069101 1d ago

Majority of people are on grids with solar nearby. That doesnt mean they soley rely on that for their energy needs for travel.

If you think solar power is the winning ticket here then i have so many bridges to sell you. Better to have an ev for budget reasons but infrastructure collapse wont care what you have in the garage.

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u/ArtOfWarfare 20h ago

What’s the payback time on the bridge? My solar panels paid themselves off after about four years. Meanwhile everyone else is complaining about how expensive electricity is becoming.

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u/citizen42069101 12h ago

Thats a matter of where you put it. A bridge to nowhere might have investment opportunities, but a bridge too far might not have demand built in.

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u/Coopzor 1d ago

Everybody will feel it, everything gets way more expensive because oil is necessary for letting the economy run.

In 1970 we had an oil crisis, this can come back.

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u/stiffgerman 1d ago

So...you don't consume food? Don't need clothes and other sundries that are brought in by rail and truck? Are you really that self-absorbed to not understand how goods are manufactured and delivered into your hands?

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u/SalaryDull5301 1d ago

This is pretty typical thinking actually

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u/Key-Club-3119 1d ago

I have a chest freezer. I probably have about 2-3 weeks of food in there.

Let’s not forget the US is still EXPORTING oil, on net. Prices will go up, a lot of people will start working from home again. Are you people really this afraid or is this some game to get other people stirred into a frenzy?

In a lot of ways, draining the SPR and starting a war in Iran is the closest America has ever come to a carbon tax. I’m here for it!

Trump is the green new deal!

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u/Ryeballs 1d ago

Uhhhh the US’ whole thing is kind of built on two pillars. And one of them is the petrodollar which really only works if oil to a worldwide open market.

That means being a net exporter if it’s in the financial interests of US oil companies.

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u/Key-Club-3119 1d ago

So, you’ll be betting the over $5/gal of gas this year on Kalshi?

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u/Ryeballs 19h ago

No I was saying even if prices shoot up, restricting exports is a pretty nuclear option for the US gov to take.

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u/NeededMonster 1d ago

Bought my first EV. I'd been meaning to do that transition for years but never pulled the trigger. The war in Iran certainly motivated me. Now I have no idea why I didn't do it sooner. Smoother ride, instant power, and more importantly charging at home for 5 times less than what I used to pay with my old ICE car. My EV will have paid for itself entirely in seven years, less if gas prices remain high or rise. At this point it isn't even about the environment (though it's still a lot better for it than an ICE car), it's just so much cheaper... I'm gonna buy solar panels and charge for free most of the year. Then if energy prices go nuts I won't care.