Bakken East Pipeline Capacity Upgraded Amid Shifting Global Gas Trade

Plans for a major natural gas pipeline from the Bakken to eastern North Dakota have been upgraded to include larger pipe diameters, signaling higher-than-anticipated demand for the region's resources. According to a report in the Grand Forks Herald, WBI Energy Transmission Inc. has increased the proposed pipe size for the Bakken East pipeline from 36 inches to 42 inches for the first 134 miles and from 36 inches to 30 inches for a 162-mile middle stretch. The final 57 miles are expected to remain at 30 inches.

Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, told the Herald that the upgrade is "good news across the board for the eastern half of North Dakota," providing more capacity for long-term growth. He noted that early proposals are based on initial demand estimates, and the larger infrastructure reflects higher interest from potential customers along the 400-mile route from near Watford City to Mapleton. Keith Lund, President and CEO of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp., said greater capacity creates greater opportunity for industrial development, including agribusiness and data centers.

The pipeline development news for North Dakota comes as global LNG trade faces headwinds that could indirectly affect long-term market dynamics for U.S. gas, including from the Bakken. According to OilPrice.com, European imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas fell sharply in June 2026, with the EU buying less than half of all U.S. LNG exports for the first time in two years. The report cites high prices as the reason, with Asian benchmarks averaging $17.33 per mmBtu compared to Europe's $13.19.

This dip poses a challenge to a U.S.-EU trade deal framework signed in July 2025, which included a European commitment to purchase $750 billion worth of American energy commodities over three years. The EU's need for gas remains urgent, however, with storage levels for the upcoming winter reported to be at their lowest in 15 years due to supply disruptions related to the Middle East war.

Separately, a record-breaking heatwave in Europe in June 2026, which scientists from World Weather Attribution linked to human-caused climate change, placed extreme pressure on electricity grids and caused over 1,300 heat-related deaths. Climate scientist Theodore Keeping stated the event "would not have been possible in June without climate change." Such extreme weather events can drive volatile, short-term demand for energy for cooling, adding another layer of uncertainty to global energy markets.

For Bakken operators, the upgraded Bakken East pipeline design represents a concrete step toward unlocking new in-state demand for natural gas, providing a potential market alternative amidst fluctuating international LNG trade. The simultaneous strain on European energy systems underscores the persistent global demand for reliable hydrocarbons, even as market flows shift based on price.