LIBYA – Sharara Field Production Disruption

A fire on the 18th of March caused by a leak along the Sharara crude pipeline has significantly reduced output at one of Libya’s largest oil fields, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced. The incident cut production by roughly half at the site, which normally has the capacity to produce about 330,000 barrels per day.

The leak, traced to a faulty valve at kilometer 538 near Bir al-Marhan in the Hamada area. The fire that followed forced the company to activate contingency plans. Part of the crude flow was redirected through the El Feel pipeline toward the Mellitah port, while additional volumes were sent to storage tanks in Zawiya using the Hamada pipeline—measures that the NOC said helped reduce overall losses.

Progress Toward Restoring Output

By Thursday, the NOC confirmed that the fire had been extinguished and the cooling stage of the response was underway. Maintenance teams are set to inspect the damage and begin repairs immediately afterward.

Sharara’s oil travels through a 723-kilometer pipeline to the Zawiya Tank Farm on the northern coast, supported mid-route by the Hamada pumping station. The field is operated by Akakus Oil Operations, a partnership between the NOC and several international companies.

Photo credit: Javier Blas. All rights reserved.