The Hugh Brinson Pipeline is a new intrastate project that will transport natural gas from processing facilities near Midland in West Texas to existing pipeline infrastructure south of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Spanning 16 counties, the pipeline will supply natural gas to data centers and electric utilities along its route, helping to support economic development and grid stability.
The pipeline system, which includes the Waha-to-Panther section, will increase natural gas takeaway capacity from the Midland Basin—boosting production and enhancing U.S. energy security. Customers will also have flexible access to markets across Texas and Louisiana, including Gulf Coast export facilities, power plants, storage sites, and industrial users. Texas-based Energy Transfer will construct and operate the intrastate pipeline system.
The Hugh Brinson Pipeline will be constructed in two phases with the first phase starting in 2025 that will include the construction of approximately 400 miles of 42-inch pipeline with a capacity of 1.5 billion cubic feet per day. It will extend from Waha to Maypearl, Texas located south of the Dallas/ Ft. Worth Metroplex, where it will then connect to Energy Transfer’s vast pipeline and storage infrastructure. Phase I is expected to be in service by the end of 2026. As part of Phase I, Energy Transfer will also construct the Midland Lateral, which is expected to be a 42-mile, 36-inch lateral to connect Energy Transfer and third-party processing plants in Martin and Midland Counties to the Hugh Brinson Pipeline.
Phase II of the project would include the addition of compression to increase the capacity of the new pipeline to approximately 2.2 Bcf/d. Depending on shipper demand, Phase II could be constructed concurrently with Phase I. Overall, the approximate 442-mile pipeline will cross 18 counties. Most easements for permanent and temporary workspace are anticipated to be 50 feet and 75 feet respectively. The pipeline will mainly be buried at a minimum of 36 inches and will be deeper in some areas including under roads and ditches. Horizontal Direction Drill (HDD) and bore techniques will be used under public roads and sensitive areas to safely mitigate ground surface disturbance.
Construction is scheduled to take place in 2025 and 2026. These pipelines, as with all pipelines operated by Energy Transfer, will meet and, where possible, exceed all safety regulations to ensure a long-lasting, safe and reliable pipeline system.
The Hugh Brinson Pipeline will financially benefit local communities via the use of goods and services and will provide a direct benefit through annual ad valorem tax payments to the counties traversed by the project. The project also will create construction jobs and encourage continued production in the U.S. energy sector.
Hugh Brinson - County Tax Estimates
The project teams completed surveys of the area to identify the safest and most environmentally responsible route. To accomplish this, they performed civil, environmental, and endangered species surveys as part of the pipeline route study. These land surveys are in compliance with all state and federal requirements for a reasonable route and to discover and document restrictions. To minimize construction impacts and reduce the environmental footprint, most of the route follows existing utility corridors and pipeline right-of-way (ROW).
Our top priority is to provide safe and reliable transportation of natural gas. Construction will include visual and Non Destructive Examination (NDE) of every weld that joins sections of pipe together. The pipeline will be tested with water at 1-1.5 times higher-than-normal pressure and regulation devices will be installed to prevent pressure from exceeding safe limits.
We prioritize the protection of sensitive environmental resources at every stage of pipeline planning, construction, and operation. From the start, routes are carefully chosen to avoid or minimize impacts to environmentally sensitive areas. We also work closely with landowners to make necessary accommodations and ensure full restoration of any impacted land.
The pipeline has filed permits with, provided information to, or engaged in required consultations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Historical Commission, and numerous state entities.
