The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a new solicitation to purchase one million barrels of crude oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) at the Bryan Mound site. This move follows the Working Families Tax Cut, signed into law by President Trump earlier this year, which allocated $171 million to start refilling the SPR.
Secretary Wright commented on the initiative, stating, “After the previous administration recklessly drained the SPR for political purposes, President Trump promised to refill and manage this national security asset more responsibly. Thanks to the President and Congress, we are able to begin the process of refilling the SPR. While this process won’t be complete overnight, these actions are an important step in strengthening our energy security and reversing the costly and irresponsible energy policies of the last administration.”
The DOE’s announcement aligns with President Trump’s commitment to rebuild strategic reserves and restore full operational capacity. The SPR currently contains just over 400 million barrels, below its total capacity of 700 million barrels.
Officials noted that the previous administration’s drawdown of 180 million barrels in 2022 led to significant costs and operational challenges, including $280 million in expenses and delayed maintenance on critical infrastructure.
The current solicitation seeks bids for an initial purchase via a spot-price-indexed contract, with deliveries planned for December 2025 and January 2026. Only U.S. companies or U.S. subsidiaries of international firms sourcing crude oil from domestic production are eligible to participate. Bids must be submitted by 11:00 A.M. CT on October 28, 2025.
Further information about the Strategic Petroleum Reserve can be found at Infographic: Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Fact Sheet: Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
