Eastern Wyoming’s Powder River Basin is emerging as one of the most active developing oil regions in the United States, and a newly proposed crude oil pipeline expansion could significantly improve the basin’s access to North American markets.
Casper-based Bridger Pipeline LLC has proposed a 645-mile crude oil pipeline expansion that would move crude oil from Phillips County, Montana to a storage and interconnection hub near Guernsey, Wyoming. If constructed, the line would have capacity of approximately 550,000 barrels per day, creating a major new crude transportation corridor in the Rocky Mountain region.
The proposal has drawn attention because some industry observers see it as partially filling the transportation role once envisioned by the cancelled Keystone XL pipeline, potentially restoring some of the crude export capacity originally designed to move Canadian oil into U.S. markets.
A Strategic Midstream Expansion
The proposed pipeline would originate in Phillips County, Montana, transporting crude south into Wyoming where it would terminate at Bridger’s storage terminal near Guernsey.
The Wyoming portion of the route would cross several counties including:
- Crook County
- Weston County
- Niobrara County
- Goshen County
- Platte County
The Guernsey crude hub already serves as an important storage and interconnection point linking several regional pipelines across the Rocky Mountain region.
By connecting Canadian supply flows with existing infrastructure in Wyoming, the project could strengthen crude transportation networks throughout the region while improving market access for multiple supply basins.
Connection to Canadian Crude Supply
While the proposed pipeline does not originate in Canada, it is designed to integrate with existing crude flows entering Montana from Canada, particularly from Alberta’s oil sands production.
Pipeline systems already transport Canadian crude across the border into northern Montana. From there, the proposed Bridger expansion could move those barrels south into Wyoming, where they would connect to a broader network of pipelines supplying refineries across the United States.
This approach effectively creates an indirect Canadian crude corridor, extending cross-border supply deeper into the U.S. midstream system without requiring a new international pipeline permit.
Supporters say this type of regional infrastructure development reflects a broader shift in North American pipeline strategy — building incremental expansions that connect existing networks rather than relying on large cross-border megaprojects.
Powder River Basin Activity Continues to Grow
The Powder River Basin has seen increasing drilling activity in recent years as operators pursue stacked formations including the Turner, Parkman, and Niobrara formations.
Companies such as Devon Energy and other independent operators have been actively developing acreage across eastern Wyoming. However, one of the key challenges facing the basin has been limited pipeline takeaway capacity, which can restrict producers’ ability to reach larger refining markets.
Expanded infrastructure could help solve that bottleneck by providing:
- Additional crude transportation capacity
- Improved pricing access to downstream markets
- Greater integration with the North American pipeline network
For operators in the region, reliable takeaway capacity is often a key factor in determining drilling pace and long-term development plans.
Early Regulatory Process Underway
Bridger Pipeline, a subsidiary of True Companies, has begun early regulatory steps for the project.
The company recently submitted a notice of intent to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, signaling the start of environmental review and permitting activities. Additional regulatory filings are expected in Wyoming as the project progresses.
According to company representatives, the project remains in the early planning phase, but it could become the largest infrastructure development in Bridger Pipeline’s history if it proceeds.
A Changing North American Pipeline Landscape
Large cross-border projects such as Keystone XL have faced significant regulatory and political challenges over the past decade. As a result, the industry has increasingly turned toward regional pipeline expansions and interconnections to move crude oil across the continent.
Projects like the proposed Bridger expansion illustrate how midstream companies are seeking to build incremental infrastructure that connects regional supply hubs with existing pipeline networks rather than relying on single mega-projects.
For the Powder River Basin, additional infrastructure could play a key role in supporting the basin’s continued growth as operators expand drilling programs across eastern Wyoming while also strengthening links between Canadian and U.S. crude supply systems.
