Saudi Arabia has resumed operations on its critical East-West oil pipeline following a shutdown earlier this month caused by a drone attack. Satellite data from maritime analytics firm Kpler indicates that nine tankers have loaded roughly 12.5 million barrels of crude oil from Red Sea ports since Sunday, signaling a partial restart of the 750-mile pipeline that transports crude from the kingdom’s eastern oil fields to its western export terminals.
The pipeline was taken offline on September 11 after it was targeted by a drone assault attributed to an Iranian-backed Iraqi militia, according to Saudi officials. Despite the disruption, Saudi authorities have not publicly confirmed the restoration of flows, and both the Saudi Energy Ministry and state oil company Saudi Aramco declined to comment on the pipeline’s status.
Before the attack, the East-West pipeline—also known as the Petroline—had become a vital export conduit for the world’s largest oil exporter. It serves as an alternative route circumventing the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed to Saudi crude shipments for the past seven months due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. Previously delivering between four and five million barrels per day, the pipeline was reportedly expanded to handle up to seven million barrels daily, with Aramco chairman Yasir O. Al-Rumayyan describing it as a “lifeline” for the country.
Two sources familiar with repair efforts, speaking on condition of anonymity, estimate that Saudi Arabia has restored flows to around 3.5 million barrels per day. While full capacity could take several weeks to achieve, industry analysts note that the pace of repairs has been swift compared to previous incidents. In 2019, after a major Houthi militia attack on Aramco facilities, operations resumed within days, and a similar event in April saw full capacity restored in about a week.
Experts emphasize the pipeline’s importance to Saudi Arabia’s economy and global oil markets. “Their ability to show their buyers that they can continue to be a reliable supplier, even in the face of these very extreme circumstances, is extremely important to them,” said Colby Connelly, head of Middle East content at Energy Intelligence.
In recent weeks, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have also increased efforts to facilitate oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz with assistance from the U.S. Navy, although navigating the waterway remains risky due to the presence of Iranian-backed Houthi forces controlling the Bab al-Mandab Strait at the southern end of the Red Sea.
Despite these measures to boost supply, global oil prices remain elevated, reflecting ongoing demand pressures and geopolitical tensions. Prices dipped slightly on Tuesday but still stand approximately 40 percent above pre-war levels.