Kirkuk–Ceyhan Oil Pipeline Explained

Kirkuk–Ceyhan Oil Pipeline
Type:oil
Map:Kirkuk–Ceyhan oil pipeline.svg
Country:Iraq, Turkey
Length Mi:600
Direction:east-west
Start:Kirkuk, Iraq
Finish:Ceyhan, Turkey
Est:1970

The Kirkuk–Ceyhan Oil Pipeline, also known as the Iraq–Turkey Crude Oil Pipeline, is a 600adj=midNaNadj=mid pipeline that runs from Kirkuk in Iraq to Ceyhan in Turkey. It is Iraq's largest crude oil export line.

Technical description

The pipeline consists of two pipes with diameters of 46inches and 40inches and designed capacity of respectively. Usable capacity of the line is believed to be only, with significant repairs still required.[1]

Incidents of sabotage

The line's Iraqi part has been a principal sabotage target since 2003.[2] On 26 October 2009, the blast near Mosul halted oil supplies through the pipeline.[3] On 16 August 2013, at around 0100 GMT near the al-Shura area 60 km to the south of the city of Mosul a bomb attack damaged the pipeline.[4] On 3 September 2013, at around 0200 GMT near Ein al-Jahash area, a bomb attack damaged the pipeline.[5]

Pipeline

In 2013, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq completed a pipeline from the Taq Taq oil field through Khurmala (the northwest sector dome of the greater Kirkuk field) and Dahuk to Pesh Khabur (Fesh Khabur) on the Turkey-Iraq border, where it is connected to the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline. This 36inches diameter pipeline has capacity of . It allows the export of oil from the Taq Taq and Tawke oil fields.[6] On 23 May 2014, the Kurdistan Regional Government announced that the first oil transported via the new pipeline was loaded into a tanker at Ceyhan.[7]

In March 2023, the International Chamber of Commerce ruled that the pumping agreement between the Kurdistan Region and the Turkish government was illegal, causing the pumping of petroleum products to and from the Kurdistan Region to cease.[8]

New pipeline proposal

Iraq is considering building a new Kirkuk–Ceyhan pipeline to bypass attack-prone areas and double the export capacity.[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: . NHST Media Group . Gulf states mull over Hormuz bypass . 2007-05-11 . 2008-03-08.
  2. News: . Explosion at fuel pipeline west of Baghdad . 2003-06-22 . 2008-03-08.
  3. News: . NHST Media Group . Blast rocks Kirkuk export link . 2009-10-28 . 2009-10-28.
  4. News: Iraq-Turkey oil pipeline bombed: officials . Reuters . 2013-08-16.
  5. News: The Peninsula Qatar (newspaper) . Dar Al-Sharq . Bomb attack halts Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline crude flow . 2013-09-03 . 2013-09-03 . dead . https://archive.today/20130903161530/http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/latest-news/251526-bomb-attack-halts-kirkuk-ceyhan-pipeline-crude-flow-.html . 2013-09-03.
  6. Web site: . Operations in Kurdistan Region of Iraq . 2014-06-14 . 2014-06-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140612192458/http://www.genelenergy.com/operations/kurdistan-region-of-iraq.aspx . dead .
  7. . KRG statement on first oil sales through pipeline export . 2014-05-23 . 2014-06-14 . 2014-07-15 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140715021442/http://www.krg.org/a/d.aspx?l=12&a=51589 . dead .
  8. News: Iraq halts northern crude exports after winning arbitration case against Turkey . 2023-03-25 . Ahmed . Rasheed . Rowena . Edwards . Reuters .
  9. News: . Iraq wants to raise Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil flow above 1 mln bpd-minister . Orhan . Coskun . 2014-04-09 . 2014-06-16.