West African Pipeline Project Advances with Regional Endorsement
The ECOWAS endorsement of the African Atlantic Gas Pipeline could affect global LNG competition relevant to Bakken gas producers.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has signed an agreement supporting the proposed African Atlantic Gas Pipeline project, according to a report from Rigzone. The development, published July 22, 2026, marks a step forward for major new natural gas infrastructure aimed at connecting West African supplies to Europe.
The proposed pipeline is designed to carry approximately 1.06 trillion cubic feet of gas per year from West Africa. Up to half of this volume, as reported by Rigzone, would be supplied to Morocco and onward to European markets. The ECOWAS endorsement provides a critical regional framework for the multinational project's development.
For Bakken operators and royalty owners, the advancement of large-scale international gas infrastructure projects has indirect implications for the global LNG market. While the Bakken formation in North Dakota is primarily a prolific oil-producing region, it also yields significant associated natural gas. The ability to profitably capture and market this gas is often challenged by the region's limited pipeline takeaway capacity and its distance from premium-priced coastal LNG export terminals.
New sources of pipeline gas supply into Europe could influence global gas-on-gas competition and long-term price benchmarks. Europe has been a key destination for U.S. LNG exports since the geopolitical shifts of 2022. Major new pipeline supplies from regions like West Africa could potentially alter future demand for transatlantic LNG cargoes over the long term, affecting the price environment for all U.S. gas, including associated gas from the Bakken.
The development underscores the interconnected nature of global energy markets. Bakken producers, while focused on crude oil, remain exposed to natural gas prices for a portion of their revenue stream. Market dynamics shaped by infrastructure projects on other continents can eventually ripple back to wellhead economics in North Dakota, highlighting the importance of monitoring international supply developments.
Source
Rigzone
