One project East Daley is closely monitoring is TC Energy’s (TRP) Bison XPress. The project aims to expand natural gas takeaway from North Dakota and is one of several variables likely to impact future commodity flows from the Bakken play.
Bison Xpress would cap an effort by TRP and Kinder Morgan (KMI) to move more Bakken gas to the Rockies and relieve a growing constraint on Northern Border Pipeline (NBPL). The 300 MMcf/d project includes upgrades to three NBPL compressor stations and modifications to Bison Pipeline to allow bidirectional flow.
Bison Xpress is backed by a lease agreement with KMI’s Wyoming Interstate Co. (WIC). The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released an environmental assessment for the project in April 2024, and TRP is targeting start-up in 2026.
Bison XPress marks the second phase of coordination between TRP and Kinder Morgan to send more Bakken gas west using Rockies-based pipelines (referred to by KMI as the Bakken XPress projects). KMI started service in 4Q23 on the Grassland South project, creating a 93 MMcf/d interconnect between the Big Horn gathering system in Wyoming and ONEOK’s (OKE) Bear Creek plant in North Dakota. WIC subsequently leased the capacity opened by the Grassland South project to move more gas onto the Wyoming pipeline.
As with Grassland South, WIC has executed lease agreements with NBPL, Bison, Fort Union Gas Gathering, and Big Horn to route the gas from the Bison XPress expansion onto the WIC system. KMI executed two agreements with Hess Trading (100 MMcf/d) and ONEOK Rockies Midstream (200 MMcf/d) to back the project.
Once gas from Bison Xpress reaches the eastern Rockies, two other expansions are in the works to open more egress west. WIC has filed to construct the Cheyenne to Piceance expansion and bring 180 MMcf/d of capacity online in 2Q25. Williams (WMB) is pursuing the Overthrust Westbound expansion to add 325 MMcf/d by December 2026.
Energy value chains are closely entwined in the Bakken, and Bison XPress is one of several projects that will influence other commodity streams. East Daley will take a closer look at the Bakken’s integrated crude oil, gas and NGL infrastructure in Part 1 of the 2025 Dirty Little Secrets annual report. Register here to join us November 6. – Zach Krause Tickers: KMI, TRP.
Dirty Little Secrets 2025: Commodity Ties Create an Abundance of Opportunity - 2-Part Series
Part 1 - Don’t Balk at the Bakken. Part 1 of this exclusive series will explore the Bakken as an example of how to view the entire U.S. energy value chain. The commodity market may be out of step, but equity markets are on target. Relying on just one could be a costly mistake. If you can anticipate what’s unfolding in the Bakken, you'll be positioned to profit across the US energy sector. Join East Daley November 6 at 10 am MST. Register here to join us.
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