Pipeline Capacity Boosted, Wind Policy Fights, Colombia's Reserves Shrink

Plans for a major natural gas pipeline from the Bakken to eastern North Dakota have been upgraded to include larger pipe sizes, indicating stronger-than-expected demand. According to the Grand Forks Herald, WBI Energy Transmission Inc. has increased the proposed diameter for sections of its 400-mile Bakken East pipeline, which would run from near Watford City to Mapleton. The first 134 miles are now planned for 42-inch pipe, up from 36 inches, and a middle 162-mile stretch is now 36 inches, up from 30 inches.

Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, called the upgrade "good news across the board for the eastern half of North Dakota." He stated that larger pipe diameters mean more capacity and more long-term growth opportunities for the Red River Valley. The change reflects higher-than-anticipated interest from potential customers, including agribusiness and data centers, according to development officials like Keith Lund of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp.

Meanwhile, federal policy on wind energy continues to seesaw, creating a contrasting backdrop for fossil fuel development. OilPrice.com reports the Trump administration has actively worked to halt offshore wind projects since taking office in 2025, using executive orders, funding cuts, and payments to companies to cancel projects. In March 2026, the administration agreed to pay France's TotalEnergies nearly $1 billion to permanently stop its U.S. offshore wind projects. Similar payments were made to other developers, with the condition that funds be reinvested in oil and gas.

However, these actions have faced legal and political pushback. A U.S. federal judge earlier in 2026 ruled against the administration, allowing five permitted East Coast wind farms to continue construction. Critics like Sam Salustro of the Oceanic Network accuse the administration of using taxpayer dollars to buy out legally executed leases because it cannot defend its actions in court.

Globally, a decline in oil and gas reserves in key producing nations could influence long-term market dynamics. According to a separate OilPrice.com report, Colombia's proven oil reserves fell nearly 1% in 2025 to just over 2 billion barrels. Its proven natural gas reserves plummeted 17% year-over-year to 1.7 trillion cubic feet. Production is also falling, with April 2026 oil output hitting a multiyear low of 724,910 barrels per day.

This trend of shrinking reserves and production in countries like Colombia, attributed to lack of investment and geopolitical risk, underscores the role of stable, high-productivity basins like the Bakken in global supply. For North Dakota operators, the contrast is clear: domestic infrastructure is being expanded to meet growing demand, while policy fights over alternatives and foreign reserve declines highlight the enduring importance of reliable hydrocarbon production.