Saudi-Bahrain oil pipeline to start commercial production by 2018-end

Commercial production at a new oil pipeline between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain will start by the end of 2018, Bahrain’s Al Ayam newspaper has reported, citing Oil Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

The pipeline will pump 350,000 barrels of oil per day, the report said.

Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco) recently began trial tests to ensure the efficiency of the water injection.

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in September of 2015 signed contracts worth around $300 million to lay a new oil pipeline between the two countries to serve the planned expansion of Bahrain’s refinery.

Arabian Light crude oil will flow from Saudi Aramco’s Abqaiq plant via the 115-km pipeline, according to earlier news reports.

The 115-km pipeline will run 42 km offshore and 73 km onshore between Aramco’s Abqaiq plant and Bapco’s Sitra refinery off the coast of Bahrain.