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Saudi East–West Pipeline Timeline 1981–2026: Hormuz Bypass, Now Under Attack

The Saudi East-West Pipeline (Petroline) is a roughly 1,200 km Aramco pipeline, commissioned in 1981, that carries crude from Saudi Arabia's eastern fields to…

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PLANNING

Saudi planners weigh a Hormuz-free export route

Through the 1970s, as exports grew, Saudi and Aramco planners grew wary of relying on one maritime exit from the Gulf, pushing toward a west-facing pipeline concept.

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PETROLINE OPENS

The East-West Pipeline opens, connecting eastern fields to Yanbu

Saudi Aramco commissioned the roughly 1,200 km Petroline, with an original design capacity cited around 5 million b/d - letting Saudi crude reach the Red Sea without eve…

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TANKER WAR

Iran-Iraq War's Tanker War raises Gulf shipping risk

Iran and Iraq attacked hundreds of tankers during their eight-year war. Saudi Arabia entered this dangerous period already holding a working Red Sea alternative in Petro…

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FIRST ATTACK

Drones strike two East-West Pipeline pumping stations

Armed drones hit two pumping stations, causing a fire and minor damage at Pump Station No. 8. Yemen's Houthi movement said it carried out the strike; Aramco restored ful…

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HORMUZ CRISIS

U.S.-Iran conflict begins; Hormuz shipping collapses

A U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran repeatedly disrupted Hormuz shipping. By September, daily transits ran near 10 vessels versus a pre-crisis baseline of 88-13…

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RECORD THROUGHPUT

Aramco pushes the pipeline to a record 7 million b/d

Aramco converted parallel natural-gas-liquids lines to crude service, using existing pump stations, reporting an all-time operating record of about 7 million b/d - still…

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FIRST 2026 ATTACK

A single pumping-station strike briefly cuts flow

A strike on one pumping station cut flow by roughly 700,000 b/d. Saudi Arabia announced by 12 April that the pipeline was restored to full 7 million b/d capacity.

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PIPELINE ATTACKED

Multiple drones from Iraq strike the pipeline; Saudi Arabia shuts it down

Saudi Arabia said several drones launched from Iraq's Maysan province hit pipeline infrastructure, damaging at least two pumping stations. Saudi Arabia shut the pipeline…

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ATTRIBUTION

Trump says Iran “probably” responsible; Iraq opens investigation

Iraq confirmed the drones launched from Maysan province, dismissed a regional commander and opened an investigation. President Trump told reporters he believes Iran is “…

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