Industry Roundup: LNG, Power Demand, and Capacity Growth

Global energy operator news on Monday highlighted major infrastructure investment and growing electricity demand, factors that influence the broader market for Bakken hydrocarbons.

Australian energy company Woodside has awarded a contract worth over AUD 300 million (approximately USD 215 million) to Green Tug Towing to build four tugboats for a Louisiana LNG project, according to Rigzone. The investment in LNG export infrastructure underscores the ongoing global demand for natural gas, which supports the market for associated gas produced in the Bakken formation.

Separately, the International Energy Agency reported that global data center electricity use surged in 2025, Rigzone noted. This rising demand for reliable, baseload power has significant implications for energy-producing regions like the Williston Basin, potentially supporting the argument for diverse power generation sources including natural gas.

In capacity news, Spanish utility Iberdrola raised its total generation capacity to nearly 59 gigawatts. Rigzone reported that the company's U.S. portfolio saw the largest growth, adding 693 megawatts, while battery energy storage led growth by technology across its global portfolio. This expansion in U.S. generation and storage capacity reflects the ongoing energy transition, which Bakken operators monitor as it shapes future demand for fossil fuels and opportunities for electricity offtake.

For Bakken stakeholders, these developments paint a picture of a complex energy landscape. Continued investment in LNG infrastructure supports the long-term value of natural gas, a key byproduct of Bakken oil production. Meanwhile, soaring electricity demand from data centers could bolster arguments for using Bakken gas for in-region power generation. The growth in U.S. battery storage capacity, as seen in Iberdrola's portfolio, represents the evolving grid that oil and gas operators must increasingly interconnect with.