Oil stocks in US Strategic Petroleum Reserve fall by 5.3 million barrels to lowest level since 1982

HOUSTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Stocks of crude oil in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by about 5.3 million barrels to 293.4 million barrels last week, the lowest level since December 1982, according to data from the Department of Energy.

The drawdowns are part of a U.S. agreement to release 172 million barrels from the facility.