Strategic Pipeline

Iraq's Strategic Pipeline was built in 1975, comprising of two parallel 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) pipelines capable of transporting crude from Kirkuk south to the Arabian Peninsula. The objective of this reversible pipeline was to give the option of pumping [Kirkuk field|Kirkuk] crude southwards for export via the Gulf or of pumping crude from the souther fields northwards, for export via Turkey or to refineries around Baghdad.

Work was halted on the second line during the Gulf War of 1990-91. Due to damage to parts of the pipeline, as of 2012 the line was only used to transport oil for domestic purposes, mainly from the South Oil Company to the refinery at Daura.

=Capacity=

The Strategic Pipeline is designed to carry 850,000 bpd of crude, but the IEA estimates operating capacity to be much lower. Actual flows in June 2012 were below 50,000 bpd.

=References=