The BridgeTex pipeline carries up to 440,000 barrels per day of Permian Basin crude oil along a 400-mile route from Colorado City, Texas to Texas City on the Gulf Coast. Owned by a three-way consortium of OMERS Infrastructure (50%), ONEOK (30%, via its acquisition of Magellan Midstream Partners), and Plains All American Pipeline (20%), BridgeTex remains one of the most strategically positioned crude export arteries out of the Permian Basin.
BridgeTex Pipeline: Route and Capacity
The BridgeTex pipeline originates at Colorado City in Mitchell County, West Texas — a major crude oil gathering hub for Permian Basin production — and terminates at Texas City on Galveston Bay, providing direct access to Gulf Coast refinery and export infrastructure. The 400-mile mainline was built at a cost of approximately $1 billion and entered service in 2014.
Capacity has been expanded twice since the original commissioning. A first expansion in Q4 2017 added 100,000 bpd without laying new pipe, bringing total throughput to 400,000 bpd. A second debottlenecking expansion completed in Q4 2018 added a further 40,000 bpd, raising nameplate capacity to 440,000 barrels per day. Both expansions were achieved through pump station upgrades and operational optimisation rather than new pipeline construction.
Ownership History: From Occidental to OMERS and ONEOK
The BridgeTex pipeline has passed through several ownership structures since its construction. The mainline was originally co-owned equally by Magellan Midstream Partners and Occidental Petroleum Corporation. In November 2014 — the same year the pipeline entered service — Occidental sold its 50% stake to Plains All American Pipeline for $1.075 billion, reconfiguring ownership to Magellan (50%) and Plains All American (50%).
In August 2018, the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (OMERS), a Canadian defined benefit pension fund, acquired a 50% stake in BridgeTex Pipeline Company LLC for $1.438 billion. The transaction left OMERS holding 50%, Magellan retaining 30%, and Plains All American holding 20% — the ownership structure that remained in place until the Magellan-ONEOK transaction.
In 2023, Magellan Midstream Partners was acquired by ONEOK in an $18.8 billion deal, transferring Magellan’s 30% stake in BridgeTex to ONEOK’s midstream portfolio. The pipeline now sits within ONEOK’s expanded crude and refined products network alongside Magellan’s former 9,800-mile pipeline system. Plains All American Pipeline retains its 20% interest and remains one of the dominant crude gathering and transportation operators across the Permian Basin.
Strategic Role in Permian Basin Crude Takeaway
The BridgeTex pipeline forms part of the critical crude takeaway infrastructure that determines whether Permian Basin production can reach Gulf Coast export terminals and refineries without discounting to local prices. Colorado City sits at the intersection of several major Permian gathering systems, making BridgeTex a natural trunk line for aggregated Permian production moving east and south.
At 440,000 bpd, BridgeTex is a mid-scale crude pipeline by Permian standards — larger than most gathering laterals but operating alongside significantly higher-capacity systems including the Longhorn, Cactus II, and Gray Oak pipelines. Its Gulf Coast terminus at Texas City provides connectivity to refineries and marine terminals along Galveston Bay, complementing the Houston Ship Channel infrastructure accessed by pipelines terminating further north. For a full overview of the North American pipeline landscape, see the Top 10 Pipeline Companies 2026.
Spills and Regulatory History
In September 2017, during Hurricane Harvey, flooding at Magellan Midstream’s Galena Park terminal east of Houston caused a significant gasoline spill from a storage tank on the BridgeTex system. Initially estimated at 1,000 barrels, the spill was later confirmed at nearly 11,000 barrels — the largest known spill from the Harvey aftermath. Federal and state regulators did not publicly acknowledge the full scale of the incident for nearly two weeks following the event, according to reporting by the Houston Chronicle at the time.
BridgeTex Pipeline: Asset Snapshot
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Route | Colorado City, TX to Texas City, TX |
| Length | 400 miles |
| Capacity | 440,000 barrels per day |
| Product | Permian Basin crude oil |
| Status | Operating |
| In service | 2014 |
| Original build cost | ~$1 billion |
| Owner — OMERS | 50% |
| Owner — ONEOK (via Magellan) | 30% |
| Owner — Plains All American | 20% |
Pipeline ownership data sourced from Global Energy Monitor and company filings.
What is the BridgeTex pipeline and where does it run?
The BridgeTex pipeline is a 400-mile crude oil pipeline running from Colorado City, Texas to Texas City on the Gulf Coast. It transports Permian Basin crude oil at a nameplate capacity of 440,000 barrels per day, connecting Permian gathering infrastructure to Gulf Coast refineries and export terminals.
Who owns the BridgeTex pipeline in 2026?
BridgeTex Pipeline Company LLC is owned by OMERS Infrastructure (50%), ONEOK (30%, following its 2023 acquisition of Magellan Midstream Partners), and Plains All American Pipeline (20%). OMERS — the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System — acquired its majority stake in 2018 for $1.438 billion.
What happened to Magellan Midstream’s stake in BridgeTex?
Magellan Midstream Partners held a 30% stake in BridgeTex until its acquisition by ONEOK in 2023 for $18.8 billion. Magellan’s interest in BridgeTex transferred to ONEOK as part of that transaction, making ONEOK the pipeline’s second-largest owner after OMERS.
What is the capacity of the BridgeTex pipeline?
BridgeTex entered service in 2014 with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. Two subsequent debottlenecking expansions — in Q4 2017 and Q4 2018 — raised total capacity to 440,000 barrels per day without adding new pipeline miles.
What was the BridgeTex pipeline spill during Hurricane Harvey?
In September 2017, flooding from Hurricane Harvey caused a gasoline spill at Magellan Midstream’s Galena Park terminal east of Houston. Initially reported as 1,000 barrels, the spill was later confirmed at nearly 11,000 barrels — the largest Harvey-related spill on record. Federal and state regulators did not publicly disclose the full scale for nearly two weeks.