FERC grants key approval on North Dakota pipeline expansion project

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) granted a certificate of public convenience and necessity on the North Bakken Expansion project, a natural gas pipeline expansion in North Dakota.

The expansion of the North Bakken pipeline will add the capacity to transport 250 million cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Bakken in North Dakota. The pipeline is owned by WBI Energy, which is a subsidiary of MDU Resources Group.

“We are excited to be able to move forward with this expansion project. We appreciate the FERC’s action on our certificate request and the bipartisan support at both the state and federal levels that we received on the project,” David Goodin, president and CEO of MDU Resources, said. “Pipelines remain the safest way to move natural gas around the country, and this project is vital to capturing natural gas that is produced — and currently flared — as an associated product of oil production in the Bakken. We will be moving natural gas to ultimately serve industrial and household consumers who use it to heat homes, power manufacturing, and drive economic growth.”

The North Bakken Expansion project includes the construction of roughly 62 miles of 24-inch natural gas pipeline and 20 miles of 12-inch natural gas pipeline and a new compressor station and additional associated infrastructure. It is expected to cost about $260 million. During peak construction, the project will employ up to 450 people.

“The FERC certificate is a major milestone for the project,” Trevor Hastings, president and CEO of WBI Energy, said. “Our team is eager to begin construction as soon as we receive our notice to proceed from the FERC. With receipt of the notice within the next 30 days, as anticipated, and favorable weather during construction, we expect to complete the expansion project and have it in service by the end of the year.”