MDU Resources Subsidiary Completes $260M Bakken Pipeline Expansion

A subsidiary of Bismarck, North Dakota-based MDU Resources Group Inc. has completed an expansion of a $260 million natural gas pipeline in western North Dakota. In addition to adding capacity, the project also helps reduce gas flaring in the Bakken region.

The subsidiary, WBI Energy Inc., placed the North Bakken Expansion project into service Feb. 1 after completing construction and testing on the natural gas pipeline. The expansion has capacity to transport 250 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) of natural gas from the Bakken production area in North Dakota, with the potential to be increased up to 625 MMcf/d through additional compression if needed to meet growing customer demand.

“We are excited to put this project into service and help producers move more natural gas to market while reducing flaring in the Bakken region,” said David L. Goodin, president and CEO of MDU Resources. “With this project, WBI Energy’s total pipeline system capacity is more than 2.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, and its strategic location within the Bakken provides further opportunities to continue expanding to serve projected production growth. We appreciate the ongoing support from federal, state and local officials for these types of projects and the economic and environmental benefits they provide.”

WBI Energy and its contractors completed the North Bakken Expansion project under a shortened timeframe, reducing the original construction schedule by two months, after a delay in receiving approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to proceed.

The North Bakken Expansion project included construction of approximately 100 miles of natural gas pipeline, a compressor station expansion, a new compressor station and additional associated infrastructure in northwestern North Dakota.

Tags: Bakken, MDU Resources, Natural Gas Pipelines, North Dakota, Pipeline Expansion, WBI Energy