Victor Davis Hanson: Iran Is Breaking Down, and the Ripple Effects Are Just Beginning

Iran will soon have to stop pumping oil. When productive oil wells are shut down, internal pressure builds up, which often results in environmental issues. shutdowns can lead to wax/asphaltene clogging, equipment corrosion, water infiltration, and damage to the reservoir, making it difficult or too expensive to restart. 

Reopening a well after a long shutdown is risky, expensive, and sometimes impossible, as the pressure changes can make the well unproductive.