The expanding instability follows alleged Houthi strikes on Oct. 8 at the Abqaiq plant, the world's largest crude oil processing and stabilization facility, which processes about 7 million barrels per day or 7% of global supply. Crude prices rose more than 5% as the attacks occurred in the same week Hurricane Isaias shut 63% of US Gulf output, removing 1.28 million barrels per day from the market. In a 2019 attack, disruptions at Abqaiq previously removed 5 million barrels per day from global production.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Fires Hit Shedgum and Ghawar as Aramco Disruptions Spread Beyond Abqaiq
Commodities11 days ago
Airspace disruptions over Dammam and Abqaiq followed reports of explosions near the coast on Oct. 9, with satellite imagery subsequently showing a black smoke plume over the Shedgum Gas Plant starting around 22:45 UTC. Unconfirmed footage also shows smoke rising from the Northern Ghawar oil field, and fires continue to burn at other Saudi Aramco facilities in the Eastern Province. These events coincide with reported flight diversions and the suspension of operations at some sites after an expatriate worker claimed a drone and missile attack hit a facility in Abqaiq.
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