Hi Energy Twitter: today’s lesson is on the gas oil separation plant (GOSP). (Thread) All Saudi crude oil production goes from the well head (oil production well) through a gathering system and is then processed in the GOSP. Learn this acronym. It’s going to be important
The stream of crude oil that comes out of wells in Saudi Arabia is mixed with gaseous hydrocarbons like methane, butane and propane, liquid condensates. crude oil, water, and contaminants such as salts, sulfur, and sand. It cannot be refined into gasoline as is. ((Thread)
GOSP units take the raw crude oil mix and remove impurities and separate the mix into distinct commodities mainly crude oil but also condensates, NGLs, and natural gas. (Thread)
GOSPs require other kinds of units for inputs such as fuel, water, and air. Abqaiq complex had several GOSPs and the systems to support them. (Thread)
Iran (presumably) systematically attacked Saudi Arabia’s GOSP systems in multiple locations. That took skill, precision, and planning. (Thread)
No Saudi wellhead crude oil production can be processed for export without operational GOSPs. (Thread)
Pipelines can be repaired very quickly and lost throughout made up via use of DRAs. Backup power can be established quickly with mobile generators. GOSPs are a different story. Attack hit a jugular of Saudi crude oil system. Big escalation (Thread)
Iran is no longer “too clever by a half” (see old blog). It has initiated direct war tactic that would be normally be withheld for an all out battle. They desired to demonstrate devastating capabilities (Thread) cfr.org/blog/iran-stra…
Talk that Iran would preemptively demonstrate its devastating force to get to negotiations at sidelines of UN is a ridiculous analysis. Better question: did Iran see Saudi Arabia as an existential threat and what additional steps is it prepared to take? (Thread)
Saudi-Iran proxy war attacks on oil facilities goes back two years (Thread) cfr.org/blog/oil-and-i…
Full Mideast region in a dangerous state. This is not just about how many days to restore a crude oil production stream.
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