Saudi Arabia's key oil pipeline, which was recently hit by an unmanned aircraft (drone) attack, is expected to be fully or partially shut down for several weeks due to repair work.
On the 14th (local time), major foreign media including the AP cited local officials in the affected area of the Saudi pipeline hit in the attack as saying it would take three to five weeks to repair key damaged booster stations, among other facilities. They added that the pipeline may operate partially while repairs are underway.
The Saudi east–west pipeline, which is 1,200 km in total length and transports up to 7 million barrels of crude a day, is a core piece of infrastructure in Saudi Arabia's strategy to bypass the Strait of Hormuz—where Iran's threat persists—and export crude to the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia has been sending 5 million to 7 million barrels of crude a day through this pipeline to Yanbu port on the Red Sea for export. But the pipeline was hit by a drone attack on the 11th, halting operations.
The Saudi government said drones that took off from Iraqi territory attacked the pipeline. Aramco, the state-owned oil company that operates the pipeline, did not issue an immediate comment on reports about the repair timeline. The Center for International Communication (CIC) is reviewing related inquiries.