Senior Specialist DOT Compliance

Sunoco pipeline leak similar to Upper Makefield spill prompts federal directive. The order comes after Energy Transfer identified a 600-gallon crude oil pipeline leak in Michigan similar to the one discovered in Bucks County last year. From Delco to Chesco and Montco to Bucks, what about life in Philly's suburbs do you want WHYY News to cover? Let WHYY know! A federal regulatory agency has concluded that Energy Transfer's pipelines have a "system-wide risk" of leaks similar to the one discovered last year in its Twin Oaks pipeline in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, that contaminated drinking water sources with jet fuel. As a result, the agency has ordered the firm to inspect and, if necessary, repair its pipelines. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which oversees the transportation of hazardous materials across state lines, issued the corrective action order to Energy Transfer, parent company of Sunoco LP, in September after the company identified a 600-gallon crude oil pipeline leak in Macomb County, Michigan. Energy Transfer did not respond to a request for comment. PHMSA described the circumstances surrounding the Michigan leak as "similar" to those of the Twin Oaks pipeline failure in Upper Makefield that, per the agency's preliminary investigation, continued undetected for 16 months, spilling what the company has estimated as more than 6,000 gallons of jet fuel. Both leaks originated at a failed repair sleeve, the agency said. The company could not locate repair records for the sleeves responsible for the two leaks, or those of hundreds of other sleeves installed in its pipeline systems, the agency said. Such documents "contain information that is necessary to verify the proper installation and ongoing integrity of repair sleeves," officials wrote. The agency found that a faulty Type-A sleeve repair was responsible for the Upper Makefield leak and ordered Sunoco LP in May 2025 to inspect and verify the integrity of all Type-A sleeve repairs along the length of the 105-mile Twin Oaks pipeline. In June 2026, the agency issued a safety advisory for Type-A sleeve repairs for all hazardous liquid pipeline operators. Officials found that the repair responsible for the Michigan leak was a Type-B sleeve repair, which is similar to a Type-A repair with some structural differences. The agency said the similarities in the sleeves that led to both leaks as well as the company's "apparent inability" to detect them "[indicate] a system-wide risk of additional similar failures." "PHMSA finds a high likelihood that the same conditions underlying the MTC and Twin Oaks pipeline failures remain present in Energy Transfer's other hazardous liquid pipeline systems and that those conditions could result in additional failures," the agency said in the order. The legislation comes as Mt. Eyre residents continue to grapple with the Sunoco pipeline leak that contaminated six wells with jet fuel. 9 months ago The order requires a pressure restriction and a repair sleeve inventory, in addition to several other measures, to evaluate the integrity of the impacted pipelines and all other hazardous liquid pipelines owned and operated by Energy Transfer and its subsidiaries. Without those measures, agency officials wrote that Energy Transfer's pipeline network "is or would be hazardous to life, property, or the environment." The investigations into the Michigan and Upper Makefield pipeline leaks remain ongoing. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Bucks County, worked with impacted community members in Upper Makefield's Mt. Eyre neighborhood to introduce legislation to strengthen pipeline safety. He said in a statement to WHYY News that the agency's latest findings "underscore precisely why these reforms cannot wait." "Halfway across the country, another Energy Transfer pipeline has suffered strikingly similar failures in repairs, safety records, and leak detection," Fitzpatrick said. "With questions surrounding countless additional repairs, these findings raise serious concerns about systemic vulnerabilities that could threaten communities nationwide. We cannot continue addressing these failures only after the damage is done." The Twin Oaks pipeline is currently operating with a 20% pressure reduction, per the order. Over the summer, residents expressed complaints that the company's clean-up is not moving quickly enough and is disrupting everyday life in the once bucolic neighborhood. Upper Makefield community members and local elected officials have also called for the pipeline to be shut down while federal regulators continue the investigation into the leak. Talk to WHYY about Philly's suburbs Your contact info. WHYY'll be in touch if WHYY look into your question. Get daily updates from WHYY News! WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, WHYY rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Energy Transfer to acquire Vaquero Midstream for $2.6bn. Energy Transfer LP, which operates a diversified portfolio of energy assets in the United States, announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Vaquero Midstream. The bolt-on acquisition is valued at approximately $2.625 billion. Consideration will consist of $1.95 billion in cash and approximately $33.3 million in newly issued Energy Transfer common units. Published on 10/06/2026 at 10:12 am EDT MarketScreener.com The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Vaquero Midstream is an independent, producer-focused natural gas gathering and processing company. Its network runs through the core of the southern Delaware Basin in Texas. Complementary assets strengthen the network Vaquero owns rapidly growing midstream operations, including wellhead gathering and regional transportation pipelines, as well as a natural gas processing complex. Its approximately 300-mile (480-kilometer) pipeline network serves major operators in the most active areas of the Delaware Basin, particularly in Loving, Reeves, Ward and Winkler counties. Vaquero currently operates the Caymus processing complex, which consists of three units with total capacity of approximately 675 million cubic feet per day (19 million cubic meters per day). The company also owns sufficient land to build two additional units, potentially increasing total processing capacity to approximately 1.2 billion cubic feet per day (34 million cubic meters per day). Vaquero's network is supported by long-term firm contracts based on fixed fees and reservation commitments, ensuring stable and predictable cash flows. The acquisition is expected to strengthen Energy Transfer's presence in the Permian Basin by providing greater access to growing natural gas and natural gas liquids production, while improving connectivity with its broader midstream platform. Vaquero's facilities are already connected to Energy Transfer's downstream natural gas and natural gas liquids infrastructure, creating synergies across the value chain. This connectivity is expected to generate additional revenue through pipeline transportation, fractionation, terminal storage and export services. The acquisition is expected to reinforce Energy Transfer's strategic position in one of North America's most active and lowest-cost producing regions. The assets are well positioned to benefit from the continued development of the Delaware Basin and offer long-term growth prospects as production increases around Energy Transfer's existing network. Positive financial impact Energy Transfer expects Vaquero's assets to immediately contribute to growth in distributable cash flow (DCF) per common unit. Vaquero's revenue is underpinned by approximately 100,000 dedicated acres and high-quality customers committed for an average remaining term of approximately 10 years. (C) MarketScreener.com - 2026

DALLAS, October 06, 2026--Energy Transfer LP (Texas Stock Exchange, TXSE: ET) and Vaquero Midstream LLC (Vaquero) announced today that the parties have entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which Energy Transfer will acquire Vaquero in a bolt-on transaction valued at approximately $2.625 billion. The transaction consideration will consist of $1.95 billion in cash and approximately 33.3 million newly issued Energy Transfer common units. The acquisition is expected to close in the 4th qu