Photo courtesy of Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.

The BridgeTex Pipeline will stretch from the Permian Basin to the Houston Gulf Coast.

“The BridgeTex pipeline will transport crude oil from the Permian Basin to the Houston Gulf Coast area, providing a cost-efficient and direct transportation option to address the growing demands for crude oil transportation in the area,” says Bruce Heine, director of government and media affairs at Magellan.

Several long-term transportation commitments support the pipeline, which were received during its recent open season. The pipeline also received a favorable order from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approving its tariff structure.

According to the companies, the BridgeTex Pipeline will be capable of transporting up to 300,000 barrels per day of crude oil, with access to Houston Ship Channel refineries, Texas City refineries and other refineries throughout the Gulf Coast via third-party pipelines.

“Regarding the construction schedule, engineering and design work as well as right-of-way acquisition has been proceeding since this past summer and we expect to begin operations on the BridgeTex system in mid-2014,” Heine says.

Included in construction will be approximately 400 miles of 20-inch pipeline from Colorado City to Magellan's terminal in East Houston; approximately 1.2 million barrels of crude oil storage at Colorado City and 1.4 million barrels of crude oil storage at East Houston to facilitate pipeline movements; and nearly 50 miles of 24-inch pipeline between East Houston and Texas City.

A joint project team will oversee the BridgeTex Pipeline project, with Magellan serving as the construction manager and operator of the BridgeTex Pipeline.