A Reversal of Direction for TransCanada

The 240-mile pipeline "end near the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border in Canada," according to TransCanada. In addition to serving Canadian oil refineries, it would also be destined for eastern refineries in the United States.

"The pipeline would transport Bakken crude to areas currently only accessible by rail, said Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority," writes Dalrymple. 

“The expectations are long-term that this would be another key piece of infrastructure for the movement of Bakken crude,” Kringstad said.

Oil from the Bakken shale formation in North Dakota and surrounding region has long been shown to be more volatile than oil from other shale formations. For that reason, the North Dakota Industrial Commission has taken steps to require drillers to reduce the volatility before it is placed in rail cars.

It was Bakken oil that exploded in rail cars in July 2013 in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, resulting in 47 deaths and the destruction of the quaint downtown.

Reducing crude-by-rail shipments, called "bomb trains" by critics, would seem like a good thing, so it was rather surprising to see the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) questioning the need for the project.

Joshua Axelrod, NRDC's policy analyst for the Canada Project, writes that the Bakken oil would be transferred to TransCanada's proposed Energy East Pipeline Project, which would carry tar sands oil, which may explain their opposition.

The Upland Pipe could be in operation by 2020 if TransCanada gets its ducks in order, meaning it receives permits from:

• U.S. Department of State (it has already applied) because of the international border crossing. Keystone XL never made it this far.
• Canada’s National Energy Board 
• North Dakota Public Service Commission