HOUSTON, June 15 (Reuters) - Stocks of crude oil in the U.S.

Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to 340.3 million barrels, the

lowest level since 1983, according to data from the

Department of Energy.

Inventories in the government's emergency stash fell by 8.9

million barrels, the third steepest draw on record. The

drawdowns are a part of a U.S. agreement to release 172 million

barrels from the facility.

(Reporting by Arathy Somasekhar in Houston)