UAE begins operating crude pipeline bypassing Hormuz

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The United Arab Emirates has inaugurated its 230-mile Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline (ADCOP) from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah. Oil exports from Fujairah will pass through the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Initial runs occurred at 1 million b/d, but ADCOP will eventually carry 1.5 million b/d, expandable to 2 million b/d.

ADCOP also includes 12 million bbl of storage, three subsea pipelines, a main pumping station, intermediate pumping station, and three single-point mooring buoys for deepwater tanker loading. China Petroleum Engineering & Construction Corp. was ADCOP’s main engineering, procurement, and construction contractor (OGJ Online, May 27, 2009).

Start-up of the pipeline has been delayed repeatedly since an initial 2009 target. ADNOC expects to begin full operations later this month.

Efforts to develop alternative outlets for Persian Gulf crude, avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, were reinvigorated earlier this year when Iran threatened closure of the waterway.

OGJ

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