Iraq north oil exports sharply cut by attacks (200,000 barrels per day)

[Barrett808]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Flows through Iraq's northern oil export pipeline have fallen to 200,000 barrels per day after a series of sabotage attacks and could remain below capacity for over a month, an oil official said on Tuesday.

Iraq was pumping about 500,000 bpd through the northern pipeline to Turkey's Ceyhan port this month but that fell to about 300,000 bpd when oil was diverted for domestic use after attacks on the domestic network.

Sabotage attacks on five oil wells and a pumping station over the past three days have stopped production at the Khabbaz oilfield near the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, which feeds the main export pipeline.

Each well at the Khabbaz field was producing 10,000-15,000 bpd and the storage facility was also damaged, the oficial said.

"This could take more than a month to repair," he added.

(more)

http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/breakingnews/view.asp?msgID=7502

[hatrack]

1. Shocking!

Who could possibly have predicted systematic attacks against oil infrastructure? I mean, gee, who knew?

:puke:

[Mikimouse]

2. In the long run, it is the smartest thing they can do...

The oil money was never destined to be used to rebuild anything, and I suspect that most of us here knew that. As long as there is no profit to be made, the US will have to eventually show its true hand. Then, and only then, I would suggest that the UN support a measure to forgive all Iraqi debts, especially the debts owned by the US.