Saudi Oil Pipeline Damage Threatens 4 Million Bpd of Crude Flows
The Saudi East-West oil pipeline, a critical export route for crude from eastern Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, was severely damaged in drone attacks on Friday.
The pipeline's shutdown has put around 4 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude flows at risk, adding another major constraint to an already tight global oil market.
Industry sources estimate that repairs could take anywhere from several days to five or six weeks, depending on the extent of the damage. However, Saudi authorities have yet to provide a definitive timetable for restarting the system.
The East-West pipeline has become increasingly important to Saudi Arabia since disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz severely constrained the kingdom's traditional Gulf export routes.