Bakken Archives - KVRR Local News

WBI to receive $500M state financial guarantee to build natural gas pipeline in North Dakota

August 22, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Kelly Armstrong speaks during the Aug. 21, 2025, Industrial Commission meeting. (Photo by Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)BISMARCK, N.D. (North Dakota Monitor) — The North Dakota Industrial Commission on Thursday awarded WBI Energy an up to $500 million financial guarantee to build a pipeline that will bring natural gas to the state’s eastern communities. WBI’s project, which it calls Bakken East,…

“Crack the Code 2.0” Aims to Double Oil Recovery in the Bakken

Energy Secretary Chris Wright stopped in Grand Forks to talk about technological innovation and the federal government's regulatory role.

August 13, 2025

Gabriel Ostler,

\GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Energy Secretary Chris Wright spoke at the Energy and Environmental Research Center in Grand Forks alongside federal and local lawmakers, talking about one very clear goal – double the amount of oil production in the Bakken. “We peaked at 1.5 million barrels a day. Now we’re down to 1.1 million barrels. And that’s going to keep…

UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center Lands $11.6 Million Oil Recovery Study

April 24, 2024

TJ Nelson,

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KVRR) – UND’s Energy and Environmental Research Center has landed a major award to study enhanced oil recovery. The Department of Energy is giving the center $11.6 million to investigate how CO2 injected into an unconventional reservoir in the Bakken Formation will result in increased oil and gas production. They will also look into the feasibility for…

North Dakota to Face Federal Government in Trial Over DAPL Costs Starting Thursday

February 13, 2024

TJ Nelson,

BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR) — North Dakota’s case against the federal government for compensation for damages during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests is going to trial on Thursday. It will be overseen and decided by U.S. District Judge Daniel Traynor in Bismarck. The state has been in a battle over recouping $38 million in damages tied to the protest south of…

Congressional Delegation Wants Review To End and Keep DAPL In Operation

January 31, 2024

TJ Nelson,

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — North Dakota’s congressional delegation is calling for the uninterrupted operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline. It is undergoing a third environmental impact examination under the National Environmental Policy Act. Sen. John Hoeven, Sen. Kevin Cramer and Rep. Kelly Armstrong say that is in spite of the fact that the pipeline has been operating safely for over…

Sen. Hoeven Pushes For Dakota Access Pipeline Review To Be Completed

April 27, 2023

TJ Nelson,

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KVRR) — A new environmental impact review of the Dakota Access Pipeline was ordered by a judge in 2020 and it’s still not done. The pipeline moves around 40 percent of the oil produced in the Bakken region in North Dakota to an oil terminal in Illinois. It set off a major protest south of Bismarck-Mandan over environmental…

Oil company leaders describe Bakken oil patch as ‘mature’

February 15, 2022

Jim Monk,

BISMARCK, N.D. – The Bakken’s oil boom appears to be in the rearview mirror. North Dakota Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms say a word he heard many times when he met in Texas with executives from 10 oil companies with wells in the Bakken is “mature” in describing the state’s oil patch. Helm says the Bakken has been rebranded. He…

North Bakken Expansion project online in North Dakota

February 9, 2022

Jim Monk,

TIOGA, N.D. – A new $250 million natural gas pipeline in northwest North Dakota has gone online. WBI Energy announced construction and testing were completed for its North Bakken Expansion project, transferring natural gas from core production areas near Tioga to the Northern Border Pipeline near Watford City. Officials say it will add an additional 250 million cubic feet per…

ND oil expert says spike in crude prices isn’t leading to immediate resurgence in The Bakken

October 11, 2021

Site Staff,

NORTH DAKOTA (KVRR) – Like many industries, it was a whirlwind for the energy sector during the first waves of the pandemic. United States Oil prices have hit their highest point in seven years at $80 per barrel. “2020 was certainly a really tough year with oil prices plummeting to -$36 and in that $10 range, $20 and all of a…

Gov. Burgum addresses state agricultural leaders on severe drought conditions

Some of the hardest hit areas are farms that specialize in small grain crops.

June 14, 2021

Aaron Walling,

NORTH DAKOTA (KVRR) — North Dakota’s severe drought conditions are causing hardships in the agriculture industry “Our two worst years were 1980 and 1988. It just never rained. We’ve had a little more rain on our farm than those two years, but I can equate this year to that,” Kevin Skunes from the North Dakota Corn Growers Association said. After…