East-West pipeline repairs sit at three to five weeks; Reuters sources put five to six
Two regional officials told the Associated Press that repairing Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, including a major pumping facility, could take three to five weeks after Thursday's drone attack. Al Jazeera reports sources familiar with the incident told Reuters repairs could take five to six weeks, while another source said operations could restart sooner. The 1200 km line feeds Yanbu on the Red Sea.
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Three to five weeks, perhaps partial flow
Local 10, publishing an Associated Press dispatch, says two regional officials briefed on the matter put repairs, including at a major pumping facility, at three to five weeks. One official said the line may work partly during repairs, without saying how much oil might pass. Saudi Arabia blamed drones from Iran-backed militias in Iraq for Thursday's attack. Rystad Energy said the line has moved 2.6 million to 4 million barrels a day since late August, and that Brent reached 109 dollars a barrel. Aramco did not immediately comment.[1]
A second clock: five to six weeks
Al Jazeera says the extent of the damage is not yet clear. Sources familiar with the incident told Reuters repairs could take five to six weeks, while another source said operations could restart sooner. Al Jazeera puts typical throughput at roughly 4 to 5 million barrels a day and says the Energy Ministry called the shutdown a precautionary measure after damage and injuries in the Riyadh and Medina regions. Sources close to Reuters said Yanbu stocks could sustain exports for about five to seven days if the line stays shut.[2]
Two repair clocks, one shutdown
The Associated Press officials' three-to-five-week span and the Reuters sources' five-to-six-week span are separate estimates of the same Thursday shutdown. Neither outlet treats the line as already restarted. Both describe a 1200 km route built to move crude to Yanbu and around the Strait of Hormuz. How much oil will pass during repairs remains unstated in both accounts.[1], [2]
