Reality: it never was needed for the Bakken
Keystone XL may not be needed for the Bakken.
Several pipeline proposals that are in the works diminish the importance of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline for North Dakota, according to the state’s public service commissioner.Note: it should be noted that the speaker was talking about the Keystone XL's importance for the Bakken. This is still an important pipeline for Canadian oil and the company proposing it.
.... projects such as the Bakken Crude Express Pipeline proposed earlier this month by Oneok Partners LP ....
That project is one of six pipelines proposed to increase the pipeline capacity out of North Dakota.
Cramer said that while many pipelines have somewhat circuitous routes, he considers the Bakken Crude Express to be the first “bullet line” with a direct route.
It was always my understanding that the Keystone XL was never a major player with regard to the Bakken. TransCanada did not want to include the Bakken in its original plans, and it was only the perseverance of the Montana governor that prompted TransCanada to change its mind. The governor said he would not all the XL pipeline through his state if there was not an "on-ramp" for Bakken oil.
So, in a sense this article does not add anything to the conversation regarding the TransCanada XL or Bakken takeaway capacity for those folks are regularly read the blog, but for others, it helps put things into perspective.
