Aramco discloses forecast for boosting East-West oil pipeline capacity

Saudi Aramco expected a capacity increase of its East-West crude pipeline to 6.2 million barrels per day (bpd) from 5 million bpd through a sustainable flow during 6 months using drag reducing additives.

The company also expected, in its initial public offering (IPO) prospectus published on Sunday, the ability to temporarily increase the capacity to 7 million bpd by end of 2019.

The pipeline is of high importance as it links oil production facilities in the Eastern Province with Yanbu on the west coast, and provides flexibility to export from the east and west coasts of the Kingdom, the giant-oil producer added.

In 2018, the East-West pipeline transported an average of 2.1 million bpd of crude oil.

The East-West crude oil pipeline is 1,200 kilometers long. It runs from the oil fields on Arabian Gulf coast to port along the Red Sea, according to data available on Argaam.