maybe they knew high oil prices were coming, and wanted to load up prior to high input costs kicked-in.
or, it could be part of the bigger plan for the SPR...they are gonna fill 'em up to the brim, with numerous bodies per, close the lids, and let 'em stew til they become some sort of biodiesel fuel, and then drain them into the SPR.
damned if you do, and dammed if you don't...no doubt there would be an uproar if a calamity occured, and there were no 'accomodations' available.
what the hey, they may become 'temporary housing units', at the rate the housing situation is going.