related to LNG facilities, repair criteria, use of technology, and policy changes related to PHMSA guidance, special permits, and enforcement. Bracewell clients relied on the team’ s strategic insights to improve pipeline safety laws in alignment with the current administration’ s deregulatory agenda and as they pursue high-profile infrastructure projects in an uncertain regulatory environment.
Counsel to Kinder Morgan on the Mississippi Crossing Project
Bracewell advises Kinder Morgan’ s Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company on the $ 1.7 billion Mississippi Crossing Project, a roughly 200-mile greenfield pipeline designed to deliver up to 1.5 Bcf / d of natural gas to southeastern markets. Our team manages all aspects of the project’ s regulatory strategy before FERC, including Natural Gas Act pre-filing and certificate matters, as well as NEPA and environmental permitting obligations. We also provide pipeline safety guidance on project planning, design, and construction, and support the development of resource reports required as part of FERC’ s environmental review process.
Project Counsel for Major Natural Gas Infrastructure Investments
Bracewell continues to serve as project counsel for some of the country’ s largest natural gas infrastructure developments, including the $ 1.7 billion Trident Pipeline Project; the Texas Header Project, designed to add five million Dth / day of capacity; and key expansions of the Grand Prix, Rockies Express, and El Paso Natural Gas systems. These matters require coordinated commercial structuring, environmental permitting, and regulatory strategy before FERC and state authorities across multiple jurisdictions.
Pipeline Safety Support for Calpine’ s Sutter Decarbonization CCS Project
For Calpine’ s pioneering Sutter Decarbonization Project— the first commercial-scale carbon capture and storage project proposed in California— Bracewell’ s pipeline safety lawyers assisted Calpine on state legislative advocacy, which led to California ending its moratorium on CO₂ transport despite the absence of federal CO₂ rules. Bracewell continues to advise Calpine on pipeline safety, strategic regulatory planning, and the technical and legal challenges associated with CCS infrastructure in a shifting regulatory landscape.
Southern Natural Gas Systemwide Rate Case
We represented SNG in a major FERC rate case involving hundreds of millions of dollars, preparing testimony from multiple expert and fact witnesses and negotiating a favorable settlement after months of litigation. Despite substantial opposition from customer groups, the settlement resolved all issues and reinforced SNG’ s longterm rate stability.
Pipeline Safety Enforcement Defense and Incident Response
Bracewell continues to serve as pipeline safety counsel to numerous operators in precedential enforcement actions and high-profile incident response and investigations.
In 2025, Bracewell secured several rare withdrawals of entire PHMSA enforcement actions as well as favorable negotiated resolutions on significant issues ranging from MAOP records, design and construction specifications, breakout tanks, integrity management, gas gathering, and corrosion control. Bracewell also assisted clients in the aftermath of significant incidents in implementing reporting and other compliance obligations, navigating multiple concurrent agency investigations( PHMSA, EPA, CSB, NTSB, etc.), and analyzing litigation and administrative enforcement defense considerations.
Targa Badlands Rate Case
We filed a cost-of-service rate case for Targa Badlands as part of the implementation of tariff-based crude oil transportation service on the system and we are currently litigating that rate case at FERC.
Proposed Changes to RVP Specifications
Our team continues to represent Colonial Pipeline with respect to its proposal to change the RVP specifications for gasoline transported on its system and related operational changes aimed at improving system integrity and increasing capacity available for shippers.
Major Oil Pipeline Projects
We are currently acting for major pipeline companies on two significant new projects. One is a new crude oil pipeline that will use both existing and expanded pipeline infrastructure across multiple pipeline systems to provide seamless transportation from major producing basins to refining markets. The other is a new joint-venture refined products pipeline to supply gasoline and other refined products from new refinery sources to markets seeking additional refined products supply. bracewell. com