Shell secured 16.2 million barrels of crude oil in the latest U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) auction.
The purchase accounts for more than one-third of the 45.2 million barrels released by the Department of Energy.
Shell outpaced other major buyers including Trafigura, which secured 8.86 million barrels, and Marathon, which took 7.7 million barrels.
Deliveries are scheduled to take place between April 1 and May 31.
Shipments may begin as early as March 20.