Saudi Arabia Restores Partial Flow to Critical East-West Oil Pipeline Following Drone Attacks

Saudi Arabia has initiated a partial restart of its vital East-West oil pipeline (Petroline) following a nearly ten-day shutdown caused by drone strikes launched from Iraq on September 11. The pipeline, which spans 1,200 kilometers from eastern fields to the Red Sea port of Yanbu, provides a crucial alternative route bypassing the disrupted Strait of Hormuz, moving roughly 4% to 5% of global oil supplies. While state-run Saudi Aramco is initially pumping at a low rate and bypassing damaged infrastructure, the news of the restart prompted Brent crude futures to fall by more than $2 a barrel to below $100, though a full return to full capacity of up to 7 million barrels per day could take weeks.

// Background

The 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) East-West Pipeline, also known as Petroline, connects Saudi Arabia's eastern producing regions near the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. It has a capacity of up to 7 million barrels per day. The infrastructure became an essential workaround to bypass the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating regional conflict involving Iran and Houthi militant threats.

// Key Developments

• Saudi Arabia restarted the East-West oil pipeline at a low pumping rate after drone attacks forced a shutdown on September 13.
• The closure disrupted crude loadings at the Red Sea port of Yanbu and pushed European benchmark prices above $130 at one point.
• Brent crude fell by more than $2 a barrel following news of the restart, dipping below $100.
• A full return to the pipeline's prior flow of roughly 4 million barrels per day may take weeks as repairs and bypasses are finalized.
• The pipeline bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining critical export channels amid ongoing regional conflict involving Iran.