I agree with you Donna, that is how I read the article as well.
From correspondents in Baghdad 16jun04
A PIPELINE blast near the southern Iraqi port city of Basra shut down oil exports from the area's two terminals, Basra's harbourmaster said today.
After the sabotage attack, oil workers tried to use an alternate pipeline, but it could not support the pressure because it was an old installation dating back to the 1970s," Captain Mowayad Hashem said.
"After that, exports stopped from Basra oil terminal and Khor al-Amaya." Link to Article
More Info.....
Iraq Oil Terminal at a Halt After Attack
Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:41 AM ET Saboteurs Hit Iraq's Oil Lifeline By Sujata Rao and Khaled Oweis
LONDON/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi oil exports were close to a standstill on Tuesday after the second big sabotage attack in two months on the country's southern oil pipeline system closed deliveries from the main Iraqi export terminal of Basra, shipping and industry sources.
"It is true," Iraqi Oil Minister Thamir Ghadhban confirmed to Reuters of the attacks on one of two main trunk pipelines feeding the terminal on the Gulf. "There were two sabotage cases. We are assessing the situation now."
Local shipping agents told Reuters that deliveries to Basra were cut off after the attack. One said the targeted line had been "seriously damaged." The second trunk line, though intact was also closed, apparently for security checks.
"Apparently the blast has disconnected the flow to the tank," said another shipping agent. Industry sources in Iraq said repairs could take 10 days, costing Baghdad nearly $60 million a day at current market prices if no deliveries are resumed during that period....
Oil prices surged a dollar a barrel following news of the bombings, reversing prices from session losses of 35 cents to take U.S. crude up 70 cents on the day to $38.30 a barrel....... Link to Entire Article