why are oil reserves important to the united states 
the strategic petroleum reserve spr is an emergency supply of crude oil that can be used to offset a severe oil supply shortage the spr was created to provide the united states with crude oil in the event of a severe oil supply or economic disruption only the president of the united states can give permission to use it and maintaining the strategic petroleum reserve is an important national security tool and the reserve is intended to serve as america s insurance policy against a severe oil supply disruption or a severe economic disruption 13