DOE Advances Constitution Pipeline, Citing Energy Security
Federal push for long-delayed natural gas line could open new market avenues for Bakken producers.
The U.S. Department of Energy is advancing the long-delayed Constitution Pipeline project to strengthen national energy security, according to a report from Rigzone. The agency, under the Trump administration, stated the move is aimed at bolstering America's energy security.
While the Constitution Pipeline is a Northeast natural gas project designed to move supply from Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale to New York and New England, its federal advancement signals a broader supportive regulatory environment for pipeline infrastructure. For Bakken operators in North Dakota, major new interstate pipeline approvals can ease midstream constraints and improve market access for natural gas, which is often produced alongside crude oil.
The Bakken formation is a significant producer of both oil and associated natural gas. Limited pipeline capacity in the region has historically led to increased flaring and wellhead price discounts. Federal momentum behind critical infrastructure projects, even in other basins, can create a more favorable climate for future pipeline development in the Williston Basin.
The Constitution Pipeline has faced years of regulatory and legal delays. The DOE's stated push to advance it underscores an administrative priority to get energy infrastructure built. This focus could indirectly benefit Bakken operators by reinforcing the importance of pipelines for energy security and market reliability, potentially streamlining the path for future projects needed to transport North Dakota's resources.
Source
Rigzone
