What These New Gas Pipelines Mean for Bakken Mineral Owners

For people who own mineral rights in the Bakken, the advancement of new natural gas pipeline projects across North Dakota is a very big deal — and mostly a positive one.

Reduced Flaring = More Marketed Gas (and More Stable Royalties)

One of the biggest challenges in the Bakken has been gas takeaway constraints. When gas can’t be moved efficiently, operators are sometimes forced to flare it or choke back production.

New pipelines directly address this problem by creating additional outlets for associated natural gas, which means:

More gas can be sold instead of burned
Less regulatory pressure on operators
More consistent, marketable production tied to oil wells

For mineral owners, that typically translates into more reliable royalty payments and fewer disruptions tied to midstream bottlenecks.

Pipeline Capacity Supports Continued Oil Drilling

In the Bakken, oil and gas are inseparable — if gas can’t move, oil development slows. These new gas pipelines remove a key constraint that has historically limited drilling activity in certain areas.

What that means for mineral owners:

Existing producing minerals may see longer well life and more stable production profiles

Undeveloped or partially developed minerals become more attractive to operators

Operators are more willing to commit capital when takeaway infrastructure is secure

In short, gas pipelines help keep the Bakken drilling-friendly, which is essential for long-term mineral value.

Stronger Infrastructure Can Increase Mineral Value

Buyers of Bakken mineral rights pay close attention to infrastructure risk. Areas with limited gas takeaway typically trade at a discount.

As major pipeline projects move forward:

Infrastructure risk decreases
Development timelines become more predictable
Buyer confidence improves

This can support stronger mineral pricing, particularly for:

Minerals near active or planned drilling
Acreage tied to long-life units
Royalty interests with consistent gas volumes

For owners considering a sale, improving midstream infrastructure often strengthens marketability.

In-State Gas Demand Adds Long-Term Stability

Unlike some legacy pipelines that move gas out of the region, several of the proposed projects are designed to support in-state demand — power generation, industrial use, and future energy-intensive projects.

For mineral owners, this matters because:

Local demand can reduce exposure to volatile regional gas pricing
Wells may stay online longer due to steady demand
The Bakken becomes less dependent on a single export market
That kind of demand diversity tends to support longer-term royalty stability.
Bottom Line for Bakken Mineral Owners
The advancement of major gas pipelines across North Dakota is a structural positive for the Bakken.

For mineral owners, it generally means:

Less flaring and fewer production interruptions
Stronger support for continued oil development
Improved long-term value and marketability of mineral rights

While every tract and lease is different, expanding gas infrastructure is one of the most important ingredients in keeping the Bakken competitive — and valuable — for decades to come.