HOUSTON, Aug 10 (Reuters) - Stocks of crude oil in the U.S.

Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell by about 6.1 million barrels to

298.7 million barrels last week, the lowest level since January

1983, 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.

(Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston)