The Red Oak Pipeline Project is planned to be more that 600 miles long, and it will affect Texas landowners all the way from Wichita Falls to Corpus Christi and east to Beaumont. Landowner Condemnation Rights Attorney Philip Hundl describes the project in this video. Mr. Hundl also strongly recommends that landowners talk with an experienced condemnation rights lawyer before signing any agreement with a pipeline company. You can call 800-266-4870 to make an appointment with Mr. Hundl or you can click this link for a no obligation case evaluation.
Summary of the Red Oak Pipeline Project Video
– Hi I’m Philip Hundl. I’m an attorney who focuses on landowner representation in condemnation cases. If you’re a landowner who is facing condemnation, it’s extremely important to understand your rights and understand the process.
In prior videos I’ve mentioned, from time to time, several projects that have come to our attention. A project that I mentioned two or three months ago is the Red Oak Pipeline. I’d like to give you all just a little bit more of an update on the Red Oak project.
Planned Pipeline Route
As we’ve mentioned before, this Red Oak project is a Phillips 66 project. It’s a joint venture with Plains All American Company. I’ve added a rudimentary map of the project here.
The Red Oak Pipeline or All Plains Pipeline Company will construct this pipeline project, and Phillips 66 will be the operator according to what’s been released in the news. This is a large pipeline project and there are several segments of it.
There’s a 30-inch crude oil line from Cushing, OK, down to Wichita Falls, Texas. And then from Wichita Falls to Sealy, TX, there’s a 30-inch pipeline.
From Sealy the pipeline divides. There’s a portion that’s proposed to be a 20-inch line to go to Houston and Beaumont, and there is a 30-inch segment from Sealy down to Corpus Christi, specifically Ingleside.
The Red Oak Pipeline is going to be fed different ways. One feed will be from Cushing, OK, and the other feed will be from Midland, TX. Everyone knows about the productivity in the Midland Basin. Plains has a large gathering system out in Midland, and that Plains gathering system will feed the Midland segment of the pipeline. That pipeline segment from Midland is being referred to as the Sunrise II pipeline. It’s a 24-inch line from Midland to Wichita Falls.
It appears that the Red Oak Pipeline project is continuing to stay online. We’ve seen a few pipeline projects put on hold or delayed somewhat. We’ve seen the Wink to Webster being delayed or put on hold. But the Red Oak appears to be moving forward.
Project Timeline
The question we’re always asked is when do they plan to start construction or when do they plan for it to be in operation? As with a lot of these projects, we see that timeline roll and get pushed back. Right now, we’re being told that the fourth quarter of 2020 is when they hope to have this project in operation. I think that’s very aggressive, but that’s what we’ve seen with pipeline projects as of late.
We’re being contacted by landowners who are receiving initial calls from right-of-way agents who want to have access to their property for surveying purposes. On these large projects, pipeline companies will hire multiple different right-of-way companies for the surveying and land acquisition, the title examination, and even the management of some of the construction aspects.
In areas along the Gulf Coast, it appears that Norfleet Land Services is providing right-of-way agents. Norfleet is a land services company, similar to Summit Resources. So if you’re contacted by Norfleet Land Services or someone associated with the Red Oak Pipeline, be aware that this is the project they’re talking about.
Most likely you’ll be affected by a 30-inch line, unless you own property along the segment from Sealy to Beaumont, then you’ll be affected by a 20-inch pipeline.
A lot of folks we’ve heard from so far have land along the 30-inch segment from Wichita Falls down to Sealy and then Sealy to Corpus. That segment runs through Milam County, Falls County, Austin County, Fayette County, Washington County most likely, Colorado County, Wharton County, Jackson County, on down to Corpus Christi. So there are lots of counties affected by this very large pipeline. It is a 650-mile project.
You’ve probably heard a lot about the Kinder Morgan Permian Highway Pipeline, that’s 426-mile pipeline. So this is almost 50% larger than that.
You Have Rights as a Landowner
If you’re a landowner who is contacted by Norfleet or a representative of Red Oak Pipeline, know that you have rights. Know that the access agreement that they’ll be proposing to you is not as landowner-friendly as we would prefer. I have a different temporary access agreement that I believe protects you and your land more than their proposed access agreement.
If you’re approached by a right-of-way agent or pipeline company representative who wants access to your property, don’t sign anything initially, understand your rights.
You should talk with an attorney who deals with condemnation on the landowner’s side. You should talk with an attorney who can explain your rights to you, who can tell you the protections that are available, and someone who can answer your questions about the condemnation process.
This will be a stressful process to go through, but I think that understanding the condemnation process helps reduce the stress on landowners. Knowing the steps in the process and the the timeline for the process reduces the uncertainty.
If you’d like more information about the condemnation process, please feel free to contact me or my office and we can provide that information to you. I think more information is better as a landowner. With that, good luck on the Red Oak Pipeline.
Let Us Help You Through the Condemnation Process
Call 800-266-4870 for an appointment or you can click this link for a no-obligation case evaluation. We have offices in Wharton and El Campo in Wharton County and in Fulshear and Richmond in Fort Bend County. We can also meet you on your land.
Call 800-266-4870 or text 979-320-9320 for an appointment. We can also arrange for online and telephone appointments all over Texas.