(Oil & Gas 360) – Global energy markets have lost much of their capacity to absorb additional supply disruptions, according to Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Chief Executive Sultan Al Jaber, who warned that nearly one billion barrels of oil have been drawn from inventories since the conflict involving Iran disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.Speaking November 2 at the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi, Al Jaber said prolonged transportation constraints have depleted petroleum stockpiles, tightened diesel supplies, and created shortages in international liquefied natural gas markets.Diesel inventories in some regions have fallen to their lowest seasonal levels in 35 years, while other markets face an estimated LNG supply gap of 600 billion cubic feet, according to the ADNOC executive.The disruptions have also changed the economics of transporting energy.Al Jaber said shipping and logistics costs, which represented less than 5% of the cost of a barrel before the conflict, now account for more than 30%.The increase reflects the growing importance of tanker availability, insurance, alternative shipping routes, and the ability to deliver petroleum products to consuming markets.Brent crude traded near $110 per barrel Monday, approximately 50% above its level before the conflict began in February.Higher diesel prices have also increased costs for transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, and other fuel-intensive industries, creating additional inflationary pressures.The International Energy Agency agreed in October to release more than 20 million barrels of diesel, along with remaining crude oil from an emergency reserves release announced in March, to help ease supply constraints.However, emergency inventory releases provide temporary relief rather than additional long-term production or refining capacity.Saudi Aramco Chief Executive Amin Nasser also warned last month that fewer than six billion barrels remained in global commercial oil inventories, with much of that volume not readily accessible to consumers.Al Jaber called for greater investment in strategic petroleum storage, refined product inventories, flexible refining capacity, and transportation infrastructure.He also emphasized the importance of operational intelligence, supportive investment policies, insurance availability, and advanced logistics systems.ADNOC announced a collaboration with OpenAI and G42 aimed at applying artificial intelligence to field development, well management, and commercial operations, including improved forecasting and operational efficiency.For energy investors, the warning has implications across upstream production, refining, LNG infrastructure, storage, and petroleum transportation.Depleted inventories can increase sensitivity to supply disruptions, potentially supporting commodity prices while exposing refiners and consumers to greater volatility.Additional storage capacity, pipeline connections, LNG facilities, and refining investments could create opportunities for infrastructure developers, engineering companies, and energy service providers.However, project economics will depend on construction costs, financing conditions, regulatory approvals, and expectations for long-term demand.Even if diplomatic negotiations reduce regional tensions, restoring inventories and transportation capacity may take longer than the initial recovery in crude shipments.ADNOC’s assessment highlights a broader investment challenge: maintaining sufficient production, storage, and delivery infrastructure to support energy security during periods of unexpected disruption.Disclaimer This informational, opinion, and insights article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice. The views expressed are based on publicly available information and market conditions at the time of publication and are subject to change without notice.