That reminds me that we need to keep an eye on the Cushing Hub oil storage levels in Oklahoma.
In July 2026, the storage level dipped under 20 million barrels which is considered almost at critical levels before “tank bottom” or “minimum operational level”
Last week it was reported at 21.4 million barrels, which is about the same level of 21.64 that caused concern in July and August.
Doesn’t depletion also damage the reservoir of natural salt? Also, something about being able to extract less consequently?
I think you’re thinking of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is stored in salt caverns
Cushing Hub in OK is very different.
It’s basically a chokepoint where most of the crude oil from pipelines across North America is stored before it is distributed to be refined here in the States, or to oil terminals to be shipped to other countries.
Pipelines have to be filled with oil at all times to stay working, because air just doesn’t have the same physical properties to keep the pipes “inflated” to hold their shape. Also, the bottom of a storage tank tends to get filled with unusable sludge, so you can’t actually drain them 100% dry.
So one way to keep pipelines and storage tanks sufficiently full during periods of high demand is to not refine or ship as much crude oil as normal.
If someone isn’t refining as much crude oil into diesel as normal, there might be shortages of diesel.