In 1915 , The Teapot Dome Oil Field was designated Naval Petroleum Reserve Number Three as part of a program to ensure that the U.S. Navy , which was converting to oil-fired boilers at the time , would have sufficient fuel reserves in an emergency .
The Navy bought the Teapot Dome Oil Field . It was called `` Naval Petroleum Reserve Number Three '' as part of a program to ensure that the Navy would have sufficient fuel reserves in an emergency .