Oil and gas pipeline capacity in North Dakota is expected to grow over the next couple of years. As Prairie Public's Dave Thompson reports, that's the word after a pipeline summit in Bismarck, hosted by Gov. Jack Dalrymple.
Dalrymple says he’s encouraged by that news.
“We expect to see oil pipeline capacity that will actually exceed our production in North Dakota by a fairly wide margin," said Dalrymple. "That's a reversal of where we've been in the past, where it's always been deficient. That means we will see a good opportunity for more and more of our production to move into a pipeline, rather than being transported by truck or by rail.”
Dalrymple says that will save some of the wear and tear on roads in the oil patch.
“Truck traffic, of course, is one of the big challenges we face in Western North Dakota," Dalrymple said. "How do we get all these trucks off the road, get products moving in pipelines that people can't see, that are much safer."
Dalrynple says pipelines are also more economical and efficent.
"It's a win-win deal all the way around,” said Dalrymple. He also said more pipeline capacity will reduce the flaring of natural gas. Recent studies show about 30 percent of the natural gas in the Bakken is flared. Dalrymple said he hopes to significantly reduce that flaring.