Damaged Saudi Pipeline Could Be Back Online Within Days, According U.S. Energy Secretary

The vital Saudi Arabian oil pipeline faces a potential weeks-long shutdown following recent attacks, cutting off the main bypass route for Gulf crude and escalating pressure on global energy markets.

U.S. Energy Secretary Chris ‌Wright said "It's still a detailed assessment, but I think it will be ​measured in days," during a ​G20 energy meeting in Houston. According to Wright, Saudi Arabia is taking ⁠steps to move more oil out of the Strait of Hormuz. 

Sources familiar with the situation state that repair timelines for the 745-mile (1,200-kilometer) East-West Pipeline remain uncertain.

One source estimated that repairing the structural damage could take five to six weeks, while another suggested the facility could resume partial pumping sooner while repairs continue.

The East-West Pipeline, which spans the Arabian Peninsula, has served as a critical lifeline for global crude supplies over the past six months.

It became the primary transit corridor after hostilities involving Iran largely closed the strategic strait between Iran and Oman, crippling most regional oil and gas exports.

Moving between 4 million and 5 million barrels per day, the pipeline accounts for roughly 4% to 5% of global supply and had previously shielded Saudi Arabia from the worst of the regional shipping disruptions.

The pipeline outage comes amid complex diplomatic friction between Riyadh and Washington.

Three sources told Reuters on Monday that the U.S. government has so far resisted Saudi Arabian requests for direct military intervention, limiting its current involvement to intelligence support.

U.S. President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he had spoken directly with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the escalating crisis.

Trump added that Iran-aligned Houthi forces from Yemen—who have targeted the kingdom with repeated missile and drone strikes—had also reached out to Washington, urging the United States to refrain from getting directly involved in the conflict.

With the pipeline's operational status in flux and main maritime routes compromised, market analysts warn that prolonged downtime could trigger sharp volatility in global oil prices and deepen regional supply strains.