Exhibit 5.1

November 16, 2020

Energy Transfer Operating, L.P.

811 Westchester Drive, Suite 600

Dallas, Texas 75225

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Energy Transfer Operating, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Partnership”), and Sunoco Logistics Partners Operations L.P., a Delaware limited partnership and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partnership (the “Subsidiary Guarantor”), in connection with the filing on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”). The Registration Statement includes a base prospectus (the “Prospectus”), which provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”).

The Prospectus, as supplemented by one or more related Prospectus Supplements, will provide for the offering and sale of (i) one or more series of the Partnership’s debt securities (the “Debt Securities”) to be issued under an indenture to be entered into between the Partnership, as issuer, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Base Indenture”), as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time by one or more supplemental indentures (as so amended or supplemented, the “Indenture”), which may be fully and unconditionally guaranteed (the “Guarantees”) by the Subsidiary Guarantor and (ii) preferred units representing limited partner interests of the Partnership (the “Preferred Units”). The Debt Securities, the Guarantees and the Preferred Units are collectively referred to as the “Securities.”

This opinion is being furnished in connection with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act, and no opinion is expressed herein as to any matter pertaining to the contents of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement, other than as expressly stated herein with respect to the enforceability of the Debt Securities and, if applicable, the related Guarantees, and the validity of the Preferred Units.

As such counsel, we have examined such matters of fact and questions of law as we have considered appropriate for purposes of this letter. With your consent, we have relied upon certificates and other assurances of officers of the Partnership, the Subsidiary Guarantor and others as to factual matters without having independently verified such factual matters. We are opining herein as to the internal laws of the State of New York and, in numbered paragraphs 2 and 3, the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited

Vinson & Elkins LLP Attorneys at Law Austin  Dallas  Dubai  Houston  London  New York Richmond  Riyadh  San Francisco  Tokyo  Washington 1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500 Houston, TX 77002-6760 Tel +1.713.758.2222  Fax+ 1.713.758.2346  velaw.com

November 16, 2020  Page 2

Partnership Act (the “DRULPA”), and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of the laws of any other jurisdiction or, in the case of Delaware, any other laws, or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any local agencies within any state.

Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof:

1. When the Indenture has been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action of the Partnership and, if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantor, and duly executed and delivered, and when the specific terms of a particular series of Debt Securities and, if applicable, the related Guarantees, have been duly established in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and authorized by all necessary limited partnership action of the Partnership and, if applicable, the Subsidiary Guarantor, and such Debt Securities (which may include related Guarantees) have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any related Prospectus Supplement and such limited partnership action, such Debt Securities and, if applicable, the related Guarantees, will be the legally valid and binding obligations of the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantor, respectively, enforceable against the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantor, respectively, in accordance with their terms.

2. When an issuance of Preferred Units has been duly authorized by all necessary limited partnership action of the Partnership, upon issuance, delivery and payment therefor in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any related Prospectus Supplement and such limited partnership action, such Preferred Units will be validly issued and, under the DRULPA, purchasers of the Preferred Units will have no obligation to make further payments for their purchase of Preferred Units or contributions to the Partnership solely by reason of their ownership of Preferred Units or their status as limited partners of the Partnership, and no personal liability for the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Partnership, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of being limited partners of the Partnership.

Our opinions are subject to: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors; (ii) the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; and (iii) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy. We express no opinion as to (a) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums

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or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (b) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief, (c) waivers of rights or defenses, (d) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (e) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of any indebtedness (including, if applicable, any series of Debt Securities), collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (f) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (g) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (h) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (i) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (j) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (k) grants of setoff rights, (l) proxies, powers and trusts, (m) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, (n) provisions purporting to make a guarantor primarily liable rather than as a surety, (o) provisions purporting to waive modifications of any guaranteed obligation to the extent such modification constitutes a novation, (p) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, and (q) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.

With your consent, we have assumed (a) that the Indenture, the Debt Securities and the related Guarantees (collectively, the “Documents”) will be governed by the internal laws of the State of New York, (b) that each of the Documents has been or will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto, (c) that each of the Documents constitutes or will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto other than the Partnership and the Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms, and (d) that the status of each of the Documents as legally valid and binding obligations of the parties will not be affected by any (i) breaches of, or defaults under, agreements or instruments, (ii) violations of statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (iii) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or to make required registrations, declarations or filings with, governmental authorities.

This opinion is for your benefit in connection with the Registration Statement and may be relied upon by you and by persons entitled to rely upon it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Act. We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under the heading “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.