User:Dcontaldo/Sabotage In Iraq (2004 Oil Spill)

Sabotage in Iraq (2004 Oil Spill)

On 14 September 2004, an attack on several pipelines adjacent to the Tigris River near the city of Beiji in Iraq (250 km north of Baghdad) caused the escape of burning crude oil from the broken pipelines into the river. It took 3 days to control the fire.

Oil spill events
Saboteurs attacked a location where several pipelines met to cross the Tigris River near the city of Beiji, 250 km north of Baghdad. , on September 15, 2004. The amount of oil spilled is unknown. Terrorists attacked a key pipeline in the Persian Gulf, which caused a halt in exports of oil through Iraq's two offshore terminals. The main pipeline along the Faw Peninsula in southern Iraq was badly damaged by the sabotage. The attack occurred just as technicians had finished repairing two valves damaged by a previous explosion. The burning crude oil escaped from the fractured pipelines and ran downhill into the river. In the course of 3 days, firefighters and workers were able to control the fire.

Consequences
Crude oil export rates fell dramatically from 1.7 million to 500,000, since only a fraction of oil could move through the main pipeline. The sabotage froze exports to Turkey and flows to refineries. The attack wasn't claimed by any person or association, but is believed to have been carried out by Al Qaeda. A second pipeline was shut off as a precautionary measure until engineers repaired fractured piping. The explosion from the attack caused heavy damage and ignited a subsequent fire, which was put out by Iraqi firemen and Iraqi security forces.