Saudi East-West oil pipeline may take up to five weeks to repair, officials say

Saudi East-West oil pipeline may take up to five weeks to repair, officials say

A crucial Saudi Arabian oil pipeline attacked last week could remain mostly out of service for three to five weeks while repairs are carried out, two officials told the Associated Press. 

The officials said repairs would include work at a major pumping facility and that the pipeline could operate partially while repair teams work on the damage.  

The 1,200-kilometre pipeline is central to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to move oil exports to the Red Sea and avoid the Strait of Hormuz, where Houthi attacks have disrupted shipping.

The pipeline has a capacity of up to 7 million barrels of oil a day. 

Saudi Arabia shut the line on Thursday after an attack it blamed on drones launched by militias in Iraq.