Pipeline Testing near Spring Cypress Road/State Highway 249

​Pipeline testing ne​ar Spring Cypress Road/State Highway 249​​

Providing our customers with safe, reliable natural gas services is the foundation of EPCOR's work.  

The Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) requires natural gas transmission utilities to carry out pipeline inspections of their pipeline assets on a seven-year interval. During the week of April 19, we will be evaluating a 15.35-mile section of natural gas pipeline in Harris County, generally north of central Tomball.  

We expect this required safety project to cause some temporary noise and visual disturbance in an area near the intersection of Waller-Tomball Road and Tomball Parkway.  

The P​roject

This required testing project will use an industry-standard inline-inspection (also called a "pig") through a 15.35-mile section of our natural gas pipeline to determine threats related to the integrity of our pipelines. The work will begin near 37825 Spur 149, Magnolia, TX and run generally south to an end point behind the Kohl's department store at 22529 Tomball Parkway, Houston, TX – that's near the intersection of Spring Cypress Road and State Highway 249. 

T​imeline

The project will take place the week of April 19-26 between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm.

Local Impacts – Noise disturbance an​​d visible flare

Starting ​Point

Several trucks with the equipment will be stationed at 37825 Spur 149, Magnolia, TX, where the ILI tool will launched. Residents may notice EPCOR and contractor trucks and/or ground crews tracking the pig along the 15.35-mile route to the end point. 

End​​ Point

The inspection will end at an existing EPCOR facility (also called a receiver station) behind the Kohl's department store at 22529 Tomball Parkway, Houston, TX near the Tomball Parkway in Tomball.

• During testing, a flare up to 60 feet high will be visible from the receiver station.
• The flare will be located 100 feet from existing structures for safety measures and monitoring at all times.
• The flare could be visible for a radius of up to a mile around the site, including visibility to traffic traveling along State Highway 249.
• The flare will also cause some noise during work hours.

We appreciate your p​​​atience 

We understand that these impacts may cause some inconvenience and disruption during the week of April 19, and we appreciate your patience.  ​