Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Saudi Pipeline Outage and Houthi Advances Threaten Global Oil Supplies
Oil prices went up because important oil routes may not work normally.
A drone attack shut a Saudi pipeline that carries oil to the Red Sea.
The pipeline normally moves millions of barrels of oil each day.
Repairs could take several weeks, although some operations might restart earlier.
Saudi Arabia has enough oil stored at Yanbu to keep exports going for only about five to seven days.
Houthi forces are also expanding near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where many oil ships travel.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has already fallen because of the conflict.
If these problems continue, less oil could reach markets and prices could rise further.
Brent crude rose 2.77% to $107.51 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate gained 2.27% to $102.32.
A drone attack shut Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline, which had been carrying between 2.6 million and 4 million barrels per day to Yanbu.
Repairs could take three to five weeks, although partial operations may resume sooner; Yanbu’s crude stocks could support exports for only five to seven days.
Houthi forces expanded their presence around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which has carried about 4% to 5% of global oil supplies in recent months.
The International Energy Agency said global oil supply could fall by 5.7 million barrels per day this year if disruptions to Gulf flows continue.
- Who
- Saudi Arabia, Houthi forces, oil traders, Rystad Energy, and the International Energy Agency are central to the report.
- What
- Oil prices rose as a Saudi pipeline outage and risks near major shipping routes threatened global crude supplies.
- When
- Prices rose on Monday after the pipeline was shut following an attack the previous week; the International Energy Agency’s supply estimate applies to this year.
- Where
- The main locations are Saudi Arabia’s East-West Pipeline and Yanbu, along with the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- The pipeline shutdown and risks around key maritime chokepoints could reduce or delay oil supplies reaching global markets.
- Brent crude
- $107.51 per barrel, up $2.90 or 2.77%
- West Texas Intermediate
- $102.32 per barrel, up $2.27 or 2.27%
- East-West Pipeline capacity
- Between 2.6 million and 4 million barrels per day since late August; earlier estimates put flows at about 4 million barrels per day
- Repair estimate
- Three to five weeks for major repairs, with possible partial operations during the work
- Yanbu stock duration
- About five to seven days of Saudi crude exports
- Bab el-Mandeb oil flows
- About 4% to 5% of global oil supplies in recent months
- International Energy Agency estimate
- Global oil supply could decline by 5.7 million barrels per day, or about 6%, this year if Gulf disruptions persist