Saudi Aramco Targets Half East-West Pipeline Capacity in Days

Saudi Aramco is rushing to bypass damaged sections of the 1,200-kilometer East-West Pipeline, targeting a partial restoration of half its capacity within days following drone strikes that disrupted global energy flows, according to an Investing.com report.

Before last week's drone attacks forced a complete shutdown, the strategic infrastructure carried between 4 million and 5 million barrels of crude per day. That volume represents roughly 4% to 5% of total daily global oil supply, intensifying immediate supply concerns across international markets as Brent crude spot prices traded near $105 on Wednesday.

Geopolitical Tensions and the Strait of Hormuz

The East-West Pipeline became an indispensable artery for Saudi petroleum exports after maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz suffered severe disruptions. Those shipping bottlenecks followed the onset of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on February 28, 2026, forcing Riyadh to rely heavily on overland transit to reach Red Sea export terminals.

Saudi authorities attributed the targeted infrastructure strike to drones operated by Iranian-backed militias stationed in Iraq. The sudden closure left energy traders estimating that the kingdom held only five to seven days of export inventory at the Yanbu terminal on the Red Sea coast before global deliveries would face critical curtailment.

Repair Timelines and Engineering Challenges

To mitigate the ongoing supply squeeze, state-owned Saudi Aramco engineers are working around the clock to construct bypasses around the damaged portions of the trans-peninsular conduit. While full operational restoration is targeted in approximately six weeks, partial throughput is expected much sooner.

Separate reporting from The Associated Press, as cited by StreetInsider, indicated that repairs to a major damaged pumping facility alone could require three to five weeks. However, engineering teams anticipate utilizing bypass configurations to resume partial operations during that repair window.

What Is at Stake for Global Energy Markets

The rapid repair effort highlights the fragility of critical Middle Eastern energy corridors amid widening regional conflicts. With Brent crude hovering around $105 per barrel, the speed at which Saudi Aramco can safely restart the 1,200-kilometer pipeline will dictate whether international markets face prolonged supply rationing or a stabilization of petroleum flows.