A judge in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana on June 3 ruled in favor of Williams Cos. in the firm’s ongoing dispute with Energy Transfer (ETP)over Williams’ Louisiana Energy Gateway (LEG) pipeline right-of-way.

The judge ruled for Williams’ proposed seven crossings of Energy Transfer’s pipeline network in the parish.

“This court finds that the construction, operation and maintenance of LEG’s proposed pipeline would not interfere with nor affect adversely the rights of ETP’s existing pipeline servitudes in Beauregard Parish,” wrote District Judge C. Kerry Anderson in the ruling on June 3.

The overall legal process between the midstream companies involves three more court cases and a ruling from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

In an e-mail sent to Hart Energy, Williams stated, “We are pleased with the ruling received from the 36th Judicial District Court of Beauregard Parish. … This is another positive step in advancing the critical energy infrastructure needed to meet Louisiana’s, and the nation’s, demand for affordable and reliable energy.”

Energy Transfer argued that Williams’ proposed plan would cause safety issues on its already existing network. Williams argued that Energy Transfer was attempting to interfere unfairly with the development of its project.

Laura Creekmur, Williams’ vice president for communications and corporate social responsibility, said that the company is now awaiting the rulings over disputed crossings in DeSoto and Sabine parishes, Louisiana while another trial in Vernon Parish, Louisiana is scheduled to start June 10.

Along with Williams, Energy Transfer has filed suit against DT Midstream (DTM) and Momentum Midstream over line crossings. An appeals judge in April ruled in favor of DTM in its case.

Energy Transfer has also sought a ruling from FERC over Williams’ planned LEG crossing at the Louisiana-Texas border, filing a protest in April, saying that the crossing should be considered a transmission line, which would require federal oversight, as opposed to a gathering system. Williams responded that the facility does not meet the requirements for transmission lines.

Williams has moved back the completion date for the LEG project from late 2024 to the second half of 2025 after finding alternative routes that don’t cross ET’s network as a precaution.

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