Rebels blow up Iraq pipeline

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=644731

BAIJI, Iraq (Reuters) - Saboteurs have blown up a pipeline running from Iraq's northern Kirkuk oil fields to a refinery at Baiji, causing a large fire that sent thick black smoke into the sky, witnesses say.

The attack occurred near the town of al Fatha, just northeast of Baiji, near where the pipeline runs into the refinery complex. "There was a huge blast and flames are shooting into the air," one witness said.

Supply lines are frequently attacked by criminals and saboteurs determined to disrupt attempts by Iraq's U.S.-backed government to generate revenue from the country's oil reserves. Multiple lines run from the rich Kirkuk fields to Baiji.

Baiji is the location of one of Iraq's largest refineries, from where exports are pumped north to the port of Ceyhan in Turkey. However, the northern export line is currently out of commission following a series of sabotage attacks in past weeks.

we went in to Iraq for oil, and we can't even secure the pipelines. What a mess!

there are an awful lot of miles of pipeline to protect. I believe it is impossible to do. I am more surprised at the lack of securing the US bases. After watching the bomber video I am assured of US failure in Iraq. Not that I really had any doubt. It is way past time to bring the troops home!

Some Alaskan with a shotgun made a big hole and an even bigger mess a coupla years back. And HE was just stumbling drunk, not righteously enraged.

Definitely NOT an Iraqi who wants the proceeds to go to the busted infrastructure of his country...fer sure

(hey, isn't that a FRENCH word I see up there?)

q. who owns reuters?

A fool and his money may be soon parted, but the fool soon learns and reacts accordingly. So who is the ultimate fool? Not the fool but the one who did the fooling.

Better stock up on nuclear shelters, it's going to be a cool four years...

Following a dramatic increase in profitability, Reuters was floated as a public company in 1984 on the London Stock Exchange and on NASDAQ in the US. On listing, the Company had a market capitalisation of some £700 million. Subsequently, Reuters made a series of acquisitions including Visnews (1985 - renamed Reuters Television), Instinet (1986), TIBCO (formerly Teknekron) and Quotron (both in 1994).

How can there be any pipeline left?

That is a lot to to destroy!

http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/2004/07/gg_target_iraqi.html

Pipeline disruptions. Over one hundred attacks against the 4,300 miles of Iraqi oil pipelines have been made. These attacks increasingly target remote sections of pipeline, junctions, large capacity pipelines, and pumping stations; all of which serve complicate repairs. Many of these attacks have destroyed critical equipment that is in short supply.

during which the contractors scurry around fixing the pipeline. Just before it is ready to start pumping oil, they blow it up again.

Saves time and explosives.

169. December 1 - gunmen opened fire on a pipeline repair team working in the Safrah area, 50 miles (80km) southwest of Kirkuk. One man was injured.
170. December 6 - attack 10 miles (16 km) south of Samarra on oil pipeline that runs from Bayji to Daura refinery.
171. December 6 - attack on a pipeline that runs inside an underground oil storage tank 50 miles (80 km) southwest of Kirkuk.
172. December 7 - attack on pipeline supplying oil from northern Iraq to Baghdad.
173. December 10 - late night attack on the 48 inch oil export pipeline in the Riyad area southwest of Kirkuk.
174. December 11 - ten armed men kidnapped the Northern Oil Company's head of security for the Bayji region while he was in the Samarra area examining damage to a pipeline that had been attacked.
175. December 13 - arsonists set on fire oil, which had leaked and pooled due to prior pipeline attacks, 43 miles (27 km) southwest of Kirkuk, raising concern that the blaze could damage nearby pipelines.
176. December 17 - attack on pipeline supplying oil from Basra to Baghdad's Daura refinery, halted the flow of refined products which, oil ministry spokesman Jihad Assem said, had just resumed following a 17 day stoppage after the previous sabotage.
177. December 17 - attack on pipeline supplying refined products from Bayji refinery to Baghdad. A statement circulated in Bayji said that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had blown up a pipeline, following orders from ''supreme commander Osama bin Laden''.
178. December 17 - attack on the northern pipeline near Fatha, 53 miles (85 km) west of Kirkuk.
179. December 18 - 7:30am attack on pipeline supplying oil from Kirkuk to the IT-1A storage tanks near Bayji.
180. December 18 - 8.30am blast on oil pipeline between Bayji and Daura refinery at Dilja, 12 miles (20 km) north of Samarra.

http://www.iags.org/iraqpipelinewatch.htm

Thanks again leftchick

location of the 14 new bases...I was just reading in Crossing The Rubicon that the new bases in Afghanistan are quite near the pipeline route. Does the same hold true for Iraq? I would be surprised if there was not such a correlation.

They need to get that right!

Coalition and Mercenary casualties:
http://icasualties.org/oif/

Iraqi civilian casualties:
http://www.iraqbodycount.net/

Iraq pipeline attack log:
http://www.iags.org/iraqpipelinewatch.htm

Anyone willing to wager on how many times it will appear in 2005?

Iraq is producing 40% less oil than during the pre-invasion embargo. So much for the lying, corrupt Bushoilini invasion claim of "double oil output."

Any news?

too bad the US can't seem to get what they came for.

and was able to protect Iraq's 4,300 miles of pipelines from Sabotage?

Any links that you might have to share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again for the wonderful posts.

Your maps are great!