Satellite Images Reveal Extent of Damage to Major Saudi Pipeline as Global Oil Supply Fears Mount
The Guardian reported on September 14 that newly released commercial satellite images clearly show the extent of damage to a critical Saudi Arabian oil pipeline that handles roughly 15% of the kingdom’s crude exports. The images show multiple breaches and ongoing burn scars, with repairs expected to last several weeks. Combined with the postponement of Iran-Oman talks on Strait of Hormuz security and a recent uptick in Houthi attacks on Saudi energy infrastructure, international crude prices broke above $87 per barrel in Asian trading, hitting a four-month high. Major consuming nations including the United States, Japan and South Korea have begun emergency assessments of strategic reserve releases and alternative supply options, pushing global energy markets into a highly sensitive phase.