An Oklahoma-based natural gas processing company now has the okay to build a third 100-million cubic feet processing plant.
One OK plans to build the plant – dubbed Garden Creek Three – in the same general area as two other processing plants. The Public Service Commission gave its go-ahead. Commissioner Julie Fedorchak says this will help reduce the flaring of natural gas produced in the Bakken.
"In North Dakota, natural gas is like the really talented stepchild," said Fedorchak. "It isn't what we're actually going for. We are an oil state, and gas is a by-prodct."
Fedorchak says in other states, companies are drilling for gas -- and they have the infrastructure to collect and process that gas. She says North Dakota is still developing that infrastructure.
"People get upset that we are flaring gas," said Fedorchak. "It is a problem. But this is a project that will help reduce that flaring."
Fedorchak says the so-called “footprint” law helped get the Garden Creek Three plant sited with a quick turnaround.