East–West Crude Oil Pipeline

The East-West Pipeline, also known as the Petroline, is a 746 miles (1,201 km)-long 48 inches (120 cm) pipeline that runs from the Abqaiq oil field in the Eastern Province (near Bahrain and Qatar on the Persian Gulf coast) across the width of the Arabian Peninsula to the Red Sea. It was built during the Iran-Iraq war.[1] The line was converted to carry natural gas, but was converted back to carry crude oil.[2] The pipeline is actually twinned pipes,[3] and as of 2018 had a capacity of 5 million BPD.[4]

East–West Crude Oil Pipeline
East-West Crude Oil Pipeline (left) with the UAE's Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline
East-West Crude Oil Pipeline (left) with the UAE's Habshan–Fujairah oil pipeline
General information
Commissioned1982
Technical information
Length1,201 km (746 mi)
No. of pumping stations13

History edit

The pipeline was built in the 1980s, "amid fears that the Iran-Iraq war would cut off shipping through the Strait of Hormuz."[3]

The 2019 East–West Pipeline attack was a Houthi drone attack that targeted the Pipeline on 14 May 2019. The attack temporarily shut down the pipeline before it was reopened.[3]


References edit

  1. ^ Blas, Javier (July 15, 2012). "Pipelines bypassing Hormuz open". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2017-05-28.
  2. ^ Publications, USA International Business (2015-08-10). Saudi Arabia Mineral & Mining Sector Investment and Business Guide. Int'l Business Publications. ISBN 9781433043680. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ a b c BATRAWY, AYA; GAMBRELL, JON (15 May 2019). "Saudi Arabia says its oil pipeline was hit by drones". THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
  4. ^ "The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil transit chokepoint - Today in Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Archived from the original on 2018-09-11. Retrieved 2017-05-28.