Houthi Strike on Saudi Pipeline Sparks Concern Over Oil Exports
Unconfirmed reports emerged that Yemen's Houthis struck a pumping station on Saudi Arabia's East-West crude pipeline, which is the kingdom's main overland route around the Strait of Hormuz. Open-source satellite imagery and fire-detection data suggest a possible attack on the pipeline, but the Saudi government has yet to confirm any damage.
The images show thermal anomalies along the pipeline, but experts warn that this does not necessarily mean there is a multi-point rupture. The Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines analyzed satellite data and concluded that the new detections line up with previously cataloged flare sites, not with new fires at uncatalogued locations along the pipe.
The East-West pipeline plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia's oil exports, with 5 million barrels per day (bpd) being sent through it to Yanbu. However, ship-tracking data shows that loadings have recovered from August's six-month low, and China is increasing its crude imports, which could mitigate the impact of any potential pipeline disruption.