Hoeven praises construction start of N.D. natural gas pipeline expansion

U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) on July 19 commended the start of construction by WBI Energy of a natural gas pipeline expansion project in western North Dakota.

“With construction now started on the North Bakken Expansion Pipeline, we’re one step closer to realizing the economic and environmental benefits of this $260 million infrastructure project,” said Sen. Hoeven, who serves on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

The project includes about 60 miles of new 20-inch diameter natural gas pipeline that will connect WBI Energy’s Tioga Compressor Station near Tioga with Northern Border Pipeline Company’s mainline at a new interconnection point south of Watford City, according to WBI Energy.

Sen. Hoeven helped secure federal approval for the project, which will help reduce flaring in the Bakken and provide an additional 250 million cubic feet per day of natural gas takeaway capacity for operators in the region, according to his office. 

“We worked to secure federal approval for this project to help reduce flaring in the Bakken and bring natural gas to market,” Sen. Hoeven said. “This project will help our state to produce more energy, transport natural gas to market and do so with better environmental stewardship.”

In April, Sen. Hoeven led a bipartisan contingent of 25 senators in requesting that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) act and review the North Bakken Expansion project and 13 other natural gas pipeline infrastructure projects pending before the commission. Following such efforts, FERC ultimately approved the North Bakken project in June.