Saudi Arabia is building a bypass around a damaged pumping station to restore about half the capacity of its East-West oil pipeline within days after drone attacks halted operations last week. Three pumping stations were hit, Reuters reported, citing sources. The route had been carrying 4 million to 5 million BPD, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

Imagery dated Sept. 16 showed one new bypass pipe already welded and buried and a second under construction, Bloomberg's Javier Blas reported. Saudi Aramco is targeting a return to full capacity in roughly six weeks, Bloomberg reported.

The shutdown has suspended oil loadings at Yanbu, the pipeline's destination on the Red Sea, and prompted Saudi Arabia to cancel some late-September crude cargoes for European refiners. Kpler estimated the damage could reduce Yanbu exports by 2.5 million to 2.7 million BPD for up to six weeks. Saudi Arabia can redirect roughly 3 million BPD through Ras Tanura, but that increases reliance on the disrupted Strait of Hormuz.