Tulsa, Oklahoma-based ONEOK Partners, LP, one of the largest natural gas distributors in the United States, plans to invest $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion between now and 2015 to build a 1,300-mile crude-oil pipeline with the capacity to transport 200,000 barrels per day (bpd). The Bakken Crude Express Pipeline will transport light-sweet crude oil from the Bakken Shale in the Williston Basin in North Dakota to the Cushing, Oklahoma crude-oil market hub.
Supply commitments for the proposed pipeline are in various stages of negotiation. Following receipt of all necessary permits and compliance with customary regulatory requirements, construction is expected to begin in late 2013 or early 2014 and be completed by early 2015. Based on supply commitments prior to construction, the capacity can be increased.
The partnership has previously announced that it is investing $2.8 billion to $3.5 billion through 2014 in growth projects. Of these projects, it is investing $1.6 billion to $2 billion in projects related to the Bakken Shale that include the 500-mile NGL pipeline, the Bakken Pipeline; a 270-mile natural gas gathering system and related infrastructure in Divide County, North Dakota; and three 100 MMcf/d natural gas processing facilities--Garden Creek plant, Stateline I plant and Stateline II plant--and related infrastructure. The Garden Creek plant went into service in December 2011.