The world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia has started pumping oil from the 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) Khursaniyah oilfield, a source at state oil firm Saudi Aramco said on Wednesday.

The oilfield is the largest single increment to global oil production for several years and was initially due to start up in December.

'The facility is operational and producing crude,' the source said. 'Its production rates are dependent on our (the company's) monthly production targets for each facility.'-Reuters