Ask HN: Why don't they make a big ol pipeline to bypass Hormuz?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47377519

by JojoFatsani • 4 months ago

1 7 4 months ago

news.ycombinator.com

ELI5: Wouldn't it make sense to run a giant tunnel boring machine under UAE and/or Oman to bypass Hormuz?

Alternatively, why not infrastructure thru relatively stable KSA to send to the red sea?

Need an ELI5 on this. Feels like UAE/Oman could build a giant Tunnel Boring Machine and build a high capacity pipeline out to the sea. And/or Saudi could build the infra to transfer more capacity than a couple boats out there.

I'm intentionally underselling this effort but genuinely curious.

CamperBob22• 4 months ago

I imagine the drawbacks include the need for a lot of vulnerable terminal infrastructure at both ends of the pipeline. While the underground pipeline itself should be safe enough, the pumping and storage facilities might represent even more concentrated risk than the Strait itself.

No personal knowledge of this stuff, though.

dnemmers• 4 months ago

Above ground pipeline seems like it would be difficult to defend, and easy to poke a hole into. I’m guessing a TBM to create an underground pipeline would take decades and billions of $$.

tliltocatl• 4 months ago

Tens of billions USD worth of infra that will become obsolete before it is ready (TBM is slooow) as things sort itself out in one way or another. Either Iran run out of drones, USA steps back, or Israel and Gulf countries find someone to pay for a full scale ground operation. Not that that the last two would do any good for the humanity, but Hormuz would be the least of our problems for sure.

cosmicgadget• 4 months ago

I guess cause when things return to normal no one will use it.

CamperBob22• 4 months ago

Looking at a map of the area, it's hard not to hear a faint stir of echoes from Project Plowshare.

cozzyd• 4 months ago

There are already pipelines through Saudi Arabia (https://openinframap.org/#5.92/24.147/48.604/A,B,L,O ) but presumably there isn't not nearly enough capacity.

I imagine in addition to how long it might take to build a pipeline to Oman, probably Oman doesn't currently have enough port capacity and that might also take a while.

Edit: In fact, there is already a pipeline from the UAE to Oman, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habshan%E2%80%93Fujairah_oil_p..., precisely for the purpose to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. It took 6 years from design completion to construction finish. It has a capacity of 1.5 million barrels a day, about half an oil tanker.

Ask HN: Why don't they make a big ol pipeline to bypass Hormuz?

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