The Ghawar oil field, the largest onshore oil field in the world, is located southwest of Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and is of particular importance due to its daily production capacity of about 5 million barrels of oil. Over the past two days, satellite images have shown unusual heat in this field, raising concerns about its operational status.
Attacks and Disruptions at Oil Facilities
In this context, Saudi armed forces have attacked the facilities of Aramco in Riyadh, Khurais, and the Rabigh refinery near Jeddah. These attacks have particularly occurred after the East-West pipeline in Saudi Arabia, known as the Petroline, has once again gone offline. This pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz, was targeted in an attack on September 9, and since then its operations have been halted. Saudi officials previously claimed that this pipeline had been reactivated, but the current situation indicates a serious challenge to the country's oil infrastructure.
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Consequences of Heat and Activity Suspension
The unusual heat in the Ghawar field, especially coinciding with the suspension of activities at Dammam Airport, could have serious implications for Saudi Arabia's oil and gas industry. This situation could negatively impact oil production, exports, and also the national economy of Saudi Arabia. Given the country's dependence on oil revenues, any disruption in operations could lead to reduced income and economic instability. Moreover, these conditions could also affect energy security in the region.
In the coming days, Saudi officials are expected to hold a meeting to assess the situation and take necessary actions to improve current conditions. This meeting may include discussions on the impacts of recent attacks and the challenges ahead for oil facilities.
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