WBI gets FERC certificate for North Bakken pipeline expansion

WBI Energy Inc., the pipeline subsidiary of MDU Resources Group Inc., has received its US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission certificate of public convenience and necessity for its North Bakken Expansion project, a 250-MMcfd natural gas pipeline expansion.

The North Bakken expansion includes construction in western North Dakota of 62 miles of 24-in. and 20 miles of 12-in. OD natural gas pipeline, as well as a new compressor station and additional associated infrastructure.

The line will start near Tioga, ND, and extend to a new interconnect with TransCanada PipeLines Ltd.’s Northern Border pipeline in McKenzie County, ND. Northern Border runs 1,412 miles from Western Canada Sedimentary basin to consumers in the midwestern US.

WBI expects to complete the project by end-2021 at a cost of about $260 million. It can be expanded to 375-MMcfd if warranted by customer demand.