The Williston Basin Pipeline, owned by MDU Resources Group, provides natural gas transportation, storage and gathering services through an interstate pipeline system located in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. (see map)

Operated by Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company, it has 30 compressor stations and is approximately 3,700 miles, according to Hart Energy Mapping and Data Services. Williston Basin, which is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, maintains two headquarters locations, one for administrative functions in Bismarck, N.D., and an operations headquarters in Glendive, Mont. In addition, Williston Basin maintains field offices in Baker, Mont., and in Worland, Wyo. (see statistics)

According to the company website, the system is strategically located near five natural gas-producing basins and contains three underground storage fields in Montana and Wyoming. Eleven interconnecting points in other pipelines allow for the receipt and delivery of natural gas throughout the country and to Canada. (see receipt/delivery point charts)

Pipeline operators are gearing up to increase take-away capacity from the Williston Basin to nearly 1 million barrels per day (b/d) by year-end 2013, according to Jim Volker, Whiting chairman and chief executive. According to data from Bakken operator Whiting Petroleum Corp., production there has gone from virtually zero several years ago to some 400,000 b/d.

Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (FT1) is its highest transport customer with 315,000 dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of capacity; followed by Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. (FTN1) with 116,000 Dth/d. The rest of the top 10 are Prairielands Energy Marketing Inc. with 99,000 Dth/d; Sequent Energy Management, LP, with 40,000 Dth/d; Louis Dreyfus Energy Services, LP, with 32,000 Dth/d; Sempra Energy Trading LLC with 26,000 Dth/d; Enserco Energy Inc. with 20,000 Dth/d; Bear Paw Energy LLC with 12,000 Dth/d; Tharaldson Ethanol Plant I, LLC 10,000 Dth/d; and Rainbow Gas Co. with 9,000 Dth/d.

WBI-Aggregate Storage (Withdrw) was the top receipt point for 2010, and WBI-Aggregate Storage (Inject) was the top delivery point for 2010. (see ranked averages)

Contact the author, Rebecca Torrellas, at rtorrellas@hartenergy.com.