Source: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/strategic-petroleum-reserve

# Strategic petroleum reserve
URL: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/strategic-petroleum-reserve
Last modified: 2026-10-17

A strategic petroleum reserve is oil a government stores for emergencies; the US holds the largest. A coordinated release adds supply the market did not plan for, which is how [one government switched supply off and a group switched it back on in one week](https://mochatrade.com/blog/mocha-markets-weekly-oct-05). [Storage as the shock absorber](https://mochatrade.com/learn).

## Related terms

- IEA: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/iea
- Crude oil (WTI vs Brent): https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/crude-oil
- Contango and backwardation: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/contango-and-backwardation
- Oil risk premium: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/oil-risk-premium
- FOMC minutes: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/fomc-minutes
- Earnings beat and miss: https://mochatrade.com/learn/glossary/earnings-beat-and-miss

Educational content only. Not investment advice. Leveraged products magnify losses as well as gains.