Regarding the SPR and Chevron, I read that somewhere on the internet last year when oil was spiking up on price manipulation just before the election. It was probably either on MSN Investor or Bloomberg.com. This was a news article talking about how the SPR was still being filled and what the decision criteria are for an oil release from the SPR. The article gave some background on the SPR and said the oil was delivered to the SPR by Chevron as payment for oil leases. I may have it saved on my old computer, but you might try a Google search on Chevron and Strategic Petroleum Reserve (...a suggestion at the risk of belaboring the obvious....lol).
From: http://www.oilvoice.com/GoM_Contracts_Aim_to_Help_Fill_Strategic_Petroleum_Reserve_/847.htm
These contracts demonstrate MMS's continuing commitment to maximize taxpayer assets, improve government efficiencies and enhance our nation's energy security by filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve," said MMS Director Johnnie Burton. With these latest contracts, MMS will take its oil royalties in kind (oil), rather than in value (cash), from offshore federal lease operators and deliver it to onshore oil market centers where DOE will take custody of the oil. DOE, in turn, will exchange the RIK oil for oil of suitable quality that can be delivered to SPR storage sites located in Texas and Louisiana.
Hummm... Heck of a deal! Date is Friday, August 15, 2003, and that makes it a good deal under W's watch...