Coalition Forces Protect Crucial Pipeline Construction

Blackanthem Military News, MUSLAKHA, Iraq, February 20, 2006 13:13

Coalition forces are protecting civilian contractors as they make major repairs at a pivotal section of pipeline in northern Iraq. Their goal is to restore the flow of oil that is costing the Iraqi people millions of dollars per day.

Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, nicknamed "Dragon Company", was assigned to guard the pipeline that is attached to the Al Fatah bridge crossing the Tigris River just outside of the city of Muslakha. The line connects an oil pumping station in Muslakha, a city in the mountainous region of northern Iraq, to the oil refineries in Bayji.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom I, Coalition forces were forced to destroy a section of the bridge to control access from the north. Coalition forces repaired the pipeline, but it was later destroyed by anti-Iraq forces using an improvised explosive device last year. The loss of revenue attributed to the damaged pipeline is estimated at approximately 20 million dollars per day for the Iraqi economy.
 

The commander of Dragon Company, Capt. Niel Myres, and his Soldiers moved from Forward Operating Base Summerall to their current location in November 2005. "When we took possession of the area, anti-Iraqi forces were mortaring the area on a weekly basis. There has only been two attacks since then", said Myres. "We didn’t do anything special to stop the attacks. It was just the presence of American forces." Dragon Company does perform regular patrols throughout the area.
 

Billy Watkins, a resident of Durant, Ok. and a civilian contractor for A & L Company, based in Houston, Texas, is the welding foreman for the pipeline reconstruction project. Watkins was there when the pipeline was destroyed by anti-Iraqi forces last year.

"The fire burned for four days," said Watkins. He commented that he and the welders he supervises are glad that the Rakkasans of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team are there handling security.

Dragon Company’s mission will end soon as the local Iraqi Strategic Infrastructure Battalion, or SIB, assumes control of security of the pipeline and other key infrastructure systems in the area.

According to Capt. Christopher Chaffin, executive officer for Dragon Company, the local Iraqi population is dedicated to ensuring the security and completion of this project for the future of their economy and their country.

By Spc. William Jones
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:

	Billy Watkins, welding foreman at the Al Fatah bridge construction site, has been working with coalition forces for six months to help restore the flow of oil to the area. Watkins is a resident of Durant, Oklahoma. (U.S. Army photo)
	Capt. Christopher Chaffin, executive officer for Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 187th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, stands on top of the tactical operations center in front of the Al Fatah pipeline. (U.S. Army photo)
	The Al Fatah bridge was damaged during OIF I and rebuilt. It was then damage again by anti Iraqi forces last year using an improvised explosive device. The bridge's structure secures an oil pipeline that runs from an oil pumping station to an oil refinery. (U.S. Army photo)
	The Al Fatah bridge was damaged during OIF I and again last year by anti Iraqi forces. The bridge's structure secures an oil pipeline that runs from an oil pumping station to an oil refinery. (U.S. Army photo)