Saudi Pipeline Attack Could Keep Oil Exports From Red Sea For Weeks

A Saudi Arabian oil pipeline attacked last week may take up to five weeks to repair, officials said. The pipeline, which is crucial for moving oil exports to the Red Sea and avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, was shut down on Thursday after an attack blamed on drones launched by militias in Iraq.

The 1,200-kilometre pipeline has a capacity of up to 7 million barrels of oil per day. Although repairs will take several weeks, officials said that work at a major pumping facility would allow the pipeline to operate partially while teams fix the damage.