RoydadNaft –  The United States has approved the release of up to 4 million barrels of crude from its strategic reserves to offset disruptions from Hurricane Isaias in the southeast of the country.

According to Roydad Naft, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said under an emergency exchange program that ExxonMobil and BP America may each receive up to 2 million barrels “to help keep refineries running,” the Energy Department said.

The two major oil companies will be required to return crude to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in 2027 and to add a premium on top of the volume they receive.

Oil production on the U.S. Gulf Coast has been badly disrupted by Hurricane Isaias, which reached the Florida coast on Friday, October 9, 2026.

Earlier, after the shock to energy markets from the U.S. war against Iran, the United States had already drawn on the SPR, taking stocks to their lowest level since 1982.

Since U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran began in late February 2026, 132 million barrels have been withdrawn from the 415 million barrels then in store.

Washington has pledged to release 172 million barrels from those stocks gradually.