J.W. Varner
Vice President, Pipeline

J.W. Varner is a senior professional with operations and engineering experience in midstream gathering, treating and processing, acquisitions and divestitures, capital budgeting, contract negotiations and litigation settlement.  From 1988 through 2003, he held many key positions with Devon Energy L.P., with its midstream division being formerly Mitchell Energy L.P.  In these roles, he directed activities of 500 employees and contractors for large intrastate gathering, processing and transmission operations that included 10,000 miles of pipeline, 500,000 horsepower in compression, and 12 processing plants. 

Earlier in his career, for 12 years Varner worked with United Texas Transmission Company of Houston, TX and managed the Laredo to Katy, TX, 30-inch pipeline expansion that was built to move up to 750 MMCFD of volumes to the Houston market place.  Varner earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas and a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics from Ouachita Baptist University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

A board member for 15 years, Varner is currently board chairman of the Association of Texas Intrastate Natural Gas Pipelines.  Currently, he is also serving as vice chairman of the Board of the Gas Processors Association.  Varner is a past chairman of the Transmission Committee of the Southern Gas Association.