據管道&天然氣雜志網8月2日報道，根據美國能源部周一公布的數據顯示，上周美國緊急原油庫存減少460萬桶，降至1985年5月以來的最低水平。

根據美國能源部的數據顯示，截至7月29日當周，戰略石油儲備（SPR）的原油持有量下降至4.699億桶，這是自5月以來最小的一周提取量。

美國在3月制定了一項計劃，在六個月內每天釋放100萬桶的戰略石油儲備，以解決導致通脹飆升的高油價問題。

去年9月，SPR的儲量為6.18億桶。

自5月份以來，平均釋放量為88萬桶/天，沒有達到100萬桶/天的計劃。美國能源部的一位發言人表示，之所以出現放緩，是因為7月4日的假期和運輸中使用添加劑冷卻原油影響了一些交貨。

石油通過在線拍賣出售給有資質的石油公司，價格是根據交貨日期內的五天平均價格確定的。

在美國釋放原油期間，石油公司并不總是購買所有供應的原油。例如，該部門表示，在一輪出價4500萬桶的交易中，只有約3900萬桶被購買。

美國能源部提議，通過允許簽訂合同，在未來幾年以固定的、預設的價格購買石油，來補充SPR。美國政府表示，相信該計劃將有助于提高國內石油產量。

煉油商Valero Energy的首席商務官Gary Simmons上周表示，由于需求預測被下調，他預計未來SPR釋放量將更少。

郝芬 譯自 管道&天然氣雜志網

原文如下:

US Emergency Crude Stockpile Falls to Lowest in 37 Years

The U.S. emergency crude oil stockpile fell by 4.6 million barrels (MMbbl) last week to its lowest level since May 1985, according to the Department of Energy on Monday.

Crude held in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) dropped to 469.9 MMbbl for the week ended July 29, according to DOE data, in the smallest weekly withdrawal since May.

U.S. in March set a plan to release 1 million barrels per day (MMbbl/d) over six months from the SPR to tackle high fuel prices contributing to soaring inflation.

The SPR held about 618 MMbbl last September and its stocks have declined due to sales.

Since May, releases have averaged 880,000 bbl/d, not meeting the 1 MMbbl/d plan. A DOE spokesperson said the slowdown had occurred because the July 4 holiday and use of an additive to cool crude for transportation had affected some deliveries.

The oil is sold to accredited oil companies via online auctions and prices are set using a five-day average bracketing the date of delivery.

Oil companies have not always bought all the crude on offer during the Administration's release. For instance, the department said that only about 39 MMbbl had been bought in a round in which it had offered 45 MMbbl. 

The Energy department has proposed to replenish the SPR by allowing it to enter contracts to purchase oil in future years at fixed, preset prices. The administration said it believes the plan would help boost domestic oil production.

Refiner Valero Energy's chief commercial officer, Gary Simmons, last week said he expected lower volumes to be released from the SPR in the future, as demand forecasts had been lowered.