RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has resumed operations at its East-West Pipeline after an 11-day shutdown caused by a drone attack, with crude exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu potentially restarting later on September 22, according to three sources briefed on the matter.

The return of supplies contributed to selling in global oil markets on September 22. Brent crude fell by more than US$2 a barrel toward $97, its lowest level since September 8.

The pipeline was shut on September 11 after drone attacks that Saudi Arabia blamed on Iraqi militia, bringing crude loadings at Yanbu to a halt.

Saudi Arabia had been using the pipeline to reroute around four million barrels per day, equivalent to about four percent of global supply, to Yanbu after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupted oil flows from Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries through the Strait of Hormuz.

State oil company Saudi Aramco did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Two sources said the pipeline was operating at a low rate following the restart. One source said Aramco was seeking to restore the pumping rate to four million barrels per day. The pipeline has a capacity of seven million barrels per day.

A security source said reaching 40 percent of capacity would take a couple of days, while a full restart would require six to eight weeks. A separate oil industry source said it could take up to six weeks to return to full pumping rates.

Three of the pipeline's 11 pumping stations were damaged in the drone attack, according to satellite imagery and industry sources. The line also has two separate pressure relief stations, according to industry assessments.

One source said the pipeline would resume crude supplies to Aramco refineries on the Red Sea coast. A cargo bound for China was also scheduled to load at Yanbu later on September 22, the person said.

Traders were preparing for Saudi oil loadings by moving tankers to Egypt's Mediterranean Port Said for ship-to-ship transfers and to Sidi Kerir, according to two trading sources.

Oil prices have also fallen this week after Iran said it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days, and as Saudi Arabia loaded more ships at its Ras Tanura port, raising expectations of increased exports through the Strait.