BASRA, Iraq, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Increased oil exports through southern Iraq could be affected by what a U.S. study describes as excessive corrosion on oil pipelines.
Baghdad aims to increase oil production to more than 12 million barrels of oil per day within the next decade and most of that could be exported.
A study financed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found that because Iraq hasn't injected chemical stabilizers into its crude, water collection at the bottom of export pipelines is corroding the inside walls, the Platts news service said.
Iraq exports much of its oil through pipelines in the south of the country where oil revenue accounts for a significant share of the country's income.
But because of the extent of the internal pipeline corrosion, Platts said, some exports would have to stop in order to carry out repairs.
