Pipeline construction starts in Weston County

Alexis Barker
NLJ News Editor
 
On-the-ground activity on ONEOK Inc.’s Elk Creek pipeline began in Weston County last month, according to Danette Welsh, the company’s government affairs director for Wyoming and Montana. 
Welsh reported to the Weston County commissioners on May 7 that workers had begun staking the center line and getting the ground cleared in the right-of-way to begin the initial stages of the construction process. 
The pipeline will be approximately 900 miles of 20-inch-diameter pipe that will have the capacity to transport up to 240,000 barrels a day of unfractionated natural gas liquids from eastern Montana to Bushton, Kansas. The route for the pipeline will run parallel to the 12-inch pipeline that was installed in 2012 and will pass through a portion of Weston County, the company told the Weston County commissioners in February. According to ONEOK, the pipeline will cross 308 miles located in five Wyoming counties: Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Goshen and Laramie.
According to an email from Stephanie Higgins, communications supervisor for ONEOK, the Elk Creek pipeline will generally follow the same route as the Bakken NGL pipeline, although ONEOK worked with stakeholders to identify a route that will minimize impacts on the community and environment. 
Various stages of construction will take place, and with projects of this size, Higgins said, construction schedules can be fluid and change from day to day. 
“First, crews begin by staking the pipeline route prior to clearing and grading the right-of-way to create a working surface suitable for construction equipment and workers,” Higgins said. “Next, sections of the pipe are laid along the right-of-way, also known as ‘stringing.’ This is when residents will begin to see more activity.” 
The last stage will involve using equipment to dig the trench for the pipeline so that specialty equipment can lower the welded pipe into the ditch before the subsoil is backfilled over the pipe, Higgins said. She noted that each step will bring additional equipment into the area. 
Welsh said that the company is “largely finished” with construction in Kansas, Colorado and southern Wyoming, from Lusk south. These areas are in the final stages of construction and beginning hydrostatic testing, she said. 
“From Lusk north we are beginning construction,” Welsh said. At this time, there is not a lot of information to give because the project is just being started, she said. 
According to Welsh, construction of the pipeline in Weston County will depend on weather because “pipelines don’t like the rain.” 
“You will see a lot of work over the next couple of months as we move north and progress,” Welsh said. “Activity will pick up, particularly here and in Crook County over the next couple months.” 
As progress continues to be made, the company plans to stay in touch with Weston County Road and Bridge, communicating with the department weekly, Welsh said. 
At this time, Higgins said, no road closures are anticipated and the current plan involves boring under the roads within the construction corridor.
Construction of the pipeline is projected to be completed by the end of 2019. 
Welsh stated that the commissioners and the community need to keep in mind the funding opportunities for organizations in the area throughout the construction and after. 
“We have opportunities available, not just during construction but during operation. There are opportunities for funding,” Welsh said. The company has already provided funding to the fire protection district and other local organizations, she said. 
Welsh also explained that Weston County will see sales tax revenue from the project. She said that ONEOK worked with the Wyoming Department of Revenue to develop a plan that will distribute the tax revenue by the number of feet in each county. 
“We provided them with the number of feet in each county, and that is how they will decide how much gets sent out to each county. The foot per county will be used to figure distribution,” Welsh said. “All of that (tax revenue) is distributed by foot across the spread of the entire pipeline. We did it wrong the first time.” 
She said that during this project, the company has been very determined to make sure everyone gets what is due to them.