North Dakota set a new gas production record in July, and the state's own pipeline director says today's gas infrastructure isn't enough to keep activity high and production growing out west.
On Sept 30, MDU Resources, the parent company of WBI Energy, approved the final investment decision to build the Bakken East Pipeline. Federal permits still come before any pipe goes in the ground.
At 1.4 billion cubic feet a day to start, it's sized for more gas than every well in North Dakota averaged in 2014. The state's numbers put 2014 at about 1.27 billion a day.
The Pipe
- About 350 miles of mainline from near Watford City to WBI's compressor station near Mapleton, just west of Fargo
- 30 to 42 inch mainline plus about 21 miles of laterals, per FERC's May notice
- $2.7 to $3.2 billion estimated cost
- Nearly 1.2 billion a day already under signed customer agreements, per MDU
Why It Exists
North Dakota wells made a record 3.62 billion cubic feet of gas a day in July, per the state's September Director's Cut.
That's more than 3,100 cubic feet of gas for every barrel of oil.
Operators captured 95.3% of it. Flaring still ran about 170 million cubic feet a day.
Bakken East moves gas after it leaves the gas plants. Gathering lines and plants out west still have to keep up for flaring to drop. State pipeline director Justin Kringstad says the added capacity would support continued gas capture.
In September 2025, Kringstad said only about 5 to 10% of the state's gas stays in North Dakota and eastern Montana. The rest leaves.
Per Kringstad, Bakken East would be the first direct, large scale connection between Bakken gas out west and demand in central and eastern North Dakota. WBI told federal regulators it's designed to serve new power generation, industry and local gas utilities there, plus hookups to serve the Midwest.
What It Means On Location
Gas takeaway is one of the lids on how hard the Bakken can run. Bigger takeaway leaves room for drilling rigs turning to the right and frac crews pumping without the gas side holding them back.
This pipe won't touch your next hitch. Phase 1 is targeted to start moving gas in late 2029.
The build runs 2028 through 2030:
- 350 miles of mainline to haul, string, weld and lower in
- Bores and drills under roads, railroads and rivers, the Missouri included, per FERC rules
- 4 new compressor stations to stand up and 3 existing ones to add onto, per MDU
The Catch
- No federal permit yet. WBI is still in FERC's pre-filing review, and the formal application is expected before the end of 2026, per Kringstad. FERC has the final say on siting
- The cost is a range, and MDU is still working out financing...debt, equity and possible partners
- The route can still shift during federal review
The State's 11%
The Industrial Commission picked WBI's project in August 2025 and voted in April 2026 to sign the capacity deal...up to $50 million a year for 10 years. That's up to $500 million for about 11% of the line's starting capacity, per the Commission.
In November 2025, when this was a 1 billion a day design, Kringstad put that same $50 million at 15 to 17% of the line. Run either number and it's roughly 150 to 170 million cubic feet a day of space.
As of April, the state was shopping that space to private shippers. Kringstad said then that in a perfect scenario the state would have zero obligation by the time the pipe is in service. If the space doesn't move, the state is on the hook for up to the full $500 million.
Where It Goes
- FERC application...Q4 2026
- Phase 1, Bakken to central North Dakota...late 2029
- Phase 2, on to Mapleton near Fargo...late 2030
Who's Hiring
Gas side outfits are hiring...pipeline operators, a gas compression tech and a gas plant apprenticeship that takes no experience. The board covers North Dakota, New Mexico, Wyoming, Texas and Alberta, with plenty of seats that need no CDL.
Field Report
The planned route crosses McKenzie, Dunn, Mercer, Oliver, Burleigh, Kidder, Stutsman, Barnes and Cass counties. If you live or work along it, drop what you've seen out there...survey crews, stakes, land agents.
Everybody else, drop your basin and what gas takeaway looks like on your locations right now.