By Claudia Assis and Myra P. Saefong
Stockpiles in the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve are near their lowest in more than 40 years - but it may not matter
The Bryan Mound in Texas, one of four locations where the U.S. keeps its emergency crude reserves.
The U.S. strategic crude stockpiles are dwindling at a record pace and are approaching their lowest in decades - but concerns about slimmer reserves may be overblown.
Steep drawdowns in recent weeks from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the federal government's emergency supply of crude oil, have rattled some economists and investors. They worry that the U.S. could be left too vulnerable to another supply strain, such as a hurricane, and in a tougher spot if the war with Iran drags on through the end of summer.
