Longhorn Pipeline to Double Capacity
The El Paso Times reports that the Longhorn Pipeline, “which was bought in August by Flying J — an Ogden, Utah, operator of 256 truck stops nationwide and two small refineries — plans to almost double the pipeline’s shipping capacity by mid-2008.”
“The addition of four pumping stations will increase Longhorn’s shipping capacity from 72,000 barrels a day to 125,000 barrels a day.”
The Longhorn Pipeline is a petroleum pipeline that was built in 1950 to carry crude oil 450 miles from Crane, Texas to Houston refineries. The Longhorn Parters Pipeline Co. bought the pipeline from Exxon in 1995 with plans to extend the line 250 additional miles from Crane to El Paso in order to pump refined fuels, including gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel the 700 miles from Houston to El Paso.
After several court battles, changes of line operators, and financial hardships, Flying J purchased the pipeline.
The areas that the pipeline runs through have changed significantly since the pipeline was built in 1950. It runs through densely populated neighborhoods in Houston and Austin, near schools, through parks, as well as through creeks, rivers, and water supplies, including the environmentally sensitive Edwards Aquifer.
Although Longhorn was required, as part of a court settlement, to replace the 1950’s pipe with new pipe over the Edwards Aquifer recharge and contributing zones, the vast majority that goes through urban areas is the original line.
You can see photos of the pipeline at AustinAction’s Longhorn Pipeline information page, including news footage of the pipe after it exploded in Houston during a test.
Category: Austin, Longhorn Pipeline
April 26th, 2007 at 3:01 am
Do you have any maps of where the Longhorn pipeline runs through South Austin? I have looked around the internet and have found some pictures of the pipeline but I cant find a good map.
April 26th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Yes, the city has a map here, although it isn’t very detailed:
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/news/images/pipemap.jpg
I have much more detailed information, including maps and satellite photos, that I collected years ago but has been cleaned from the website over time as interest declined. I can repost some of that information if people are interested in this topic. It should also be fairly easy to use Google Maps to create a map of the route through Austin.
May 3rd, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Transportation pipeline rights of way (ROW) are required to be posted where they cross roads. The Longhorn ROW is pretty easy to find, just look for the yellow and black sign that should include the name and telephone number of the pipeline company. I know the line is well marked as it crosses South First, south of William Cannon.
July 14th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Longhorn has been digging up 86 locations from Dripping Springs to Ft. McKavett for several weeks. They are searching for leaks.
Talking to other landowners I hear their cathodic protection has failed in numerous locations and new private wells have been drilled and submersible pumps replaced, at their expense. I have learned this talking to other landowners.
Can anyone add to this?