North Dakota has oil pipeline forum

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BISMARCK, N.D., June 15 (UPI) -- Increased oil production from North Dakota means pipeline companies are investing heavily in the state, Gov. Jack Dalrymple said.

North Dakota was the host for a pipeline forum as oil production in the state has been making gains. Texas is the only U.S. state that produces more oil that North Dakota.

Dalrymple said pipeline capacity is key to getting oil out of the state and into the market.

In 2009, reports The Bismarck (N.D.) Tribune, oil production was around 195,000 barrels per day. By April of this year, production topped the 600,000 bpd mark.

"These (pipeline) companies are really stepping up, they're really making some large capital investments," Dalrymple said.

Enbridge Energy Partners said a series of multibillion-dollar projects would help expand market access in North America for the increasing oil production from western Canada and the Bakken formation, part of which lies in North Dakota.

Oklahoma natural gas company Oneok Partners announced plans in April for a 1,300-mile pipeline from oil deposits in North Dakota to the Cushing hub in Oklahoma. The project could carry as much as 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

"Build more, do more, gather more," Dalrymple said. "And do it as fast as you possibly can."