Saudi Aramco Restores East-West Pipeline to Full 7 Million BPD Capacity as Khurais Oil Field Recovery Continues

Saudi Aramco confirmed on April 12, 2026 that full pumping capacity has been restored on the East-West crude oil pipeline, returning throughput to approximately 7 million barrels per day following infrastructure attacks that disrupted operations earlier in the month. The restoration, combined with the full recovery of the offshore Manifa oil field, marks a significant step toward stabilizing Saudi Arabian energy supply. However, the onshore Khurais oil field remains offline as work continues to recover approximately 300,000 barrels per day.

East-West Pipeline and Manifa Field Back at Full Capacity

The East-West pipeline, also known as the Petroline, had been running approximately 700,000 barrels per day below its normal throughput after a strike damaged one of its 11 pumping stations. Saudi authorities confirmed the pipeline is now pumping at its full capacity of roughly 7 million barrels per day, providing a critical export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz by routing crude west to Red Sea loading terminals at Yanbu.

Production at the offshore Manifa oil field on Saudi Arabia's east coast has also been fully restored to its capacity of approximately 300,000 barrels per day. Manifa had sustained damage in the April 7-8 attacks that struck multiple energy sites across Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and Yanbu Industrial City. Saudi authorities reported one death and seven injuries in connection with the incidents.

Khurais Oil Field Restoration Still Underway

Work continues at the large onshore Khurais oil field, where output declined by approximately 300,000 barrels per day following the attacks. Saudi Arabia's energy ministry stated that a further update on Khurais restoration would be provided once full operational capacity is re-established. The timeline for full Khurais recovery has not been confirmed publicly.

Analysts at JPMorgan described the aggregate damage as a "measurable supply shock," noting that the initial combined loss of approximately 600,000 barrels per day of production capacity represented roughly 10% of Saudi Arabia's pre-conflict crude exports. The restoration of Manifa and the East-West pipeline reduces the outstanding deficit to approximately 300,000 barrels per day while Khurais work continues.

SATORP Refinery Damage Assessment Continues

The SATORP refinery in Jubail, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco (62.5%) and TotalEnergies (37.5%), sustained damage to one of its two main processing lines during the same attacks. The 460,000 barrel per day refinery, which produces approximately 22 million tons of refined products annually, shut down affected units as a safety precaution while technical assessments were completed. No restart timeline has been issued as of April 13, 2026. Oil Authority reported the initial SATORP shutdown on April 10.

Other refining facilities affected by the broader infrastructure attacks include the Ras Tanura refinery, the SAMREF refinery at Yanbu, and the Riyadh refinery. The full scope of damage across refining capacity and the timeline for complete restoration across all affected sites has not yet been disclosed by Saudi authorities.

Brent Crude Surges to $102 Per Barrel on Supply Concerns

Brent crude futures traded near $102.26 per barrel on April 13, 2026, a gain of approximately 6.95% from the prior session. WTI crude held near $96.57 per barrel. The price jump reflects a combination of the ongoing Khurais production shortfall, damage to Saudi refining capacity, and a broader geopolitical escalation after US President Donald Trump announced a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of weekend negotiations with Iran.

The oil market is now pricing in two distinct risk premiums: the physical supply reduction from infrastructure damage and the broader navigation risk in the Strait of Hormuz that affects tanker movements for roughly 20% of global oil trade. With the East-West pipeline now at full capacity, Saudi Arabia retains a partial bypass route for its crude exports, which limits but does not eliminate the Hormuz risk premium on Brent pricing.

OPEC+ Watches Closely Ahead of May 3 Meeting

The Saudi infrastructure recovery is unfolding just weeks before the OPEC+ May 3 production decision, where the producer group must weigh whether to accelerate output increases as originally planned or hold back given Saudi Arabia's reduced available capacity. With Khurais still offline, Saudi Arabia's ability to fulfill any agreed output targets remains constrained. The outcome of the May 3 meeting will be a key driver for oil prices in the weeks ahead.

Key Infrastructure Status as of April 13, 2026

• East-West pipeline: Restored to full 7 million bpd capacity (April 12)
• Manifa oil field: Fully recovered at approximately 300,000 bpd
• Khurais oil field: Approximately 300,000 bpd still offline, restoration ongoing
• SATORP refinery (Jubail): Damage assessment underway, restart timeline pending
• Brent crude: $102.26/bbl (April 13), up approximately 7% on the session
• WTI crude: $96.57/bbl