Oil Flowing in Dakota Access Pipeline

After months of delay caused by environmentalists and Native American protesters, the Dakota Access pipeline in North Dakota is moving oil and soon cash will be flowing into developer Energy Transfer Partners.

The oil started flowing his week through the 1,200-mile pipeline that cost $3.8 billion.  Full operations aren’t expected for a few more weeks. Energy Transfer Partners indicated in court documents that it has contracts for long-term business with nine companies.

Delays caused by the protests cost ETP an estimated $500 million. But the opponents aren’t finished. Four Sioux tribes, the Standing Rock, Cheyenne River, Yankton and Oglala still have lawsuits pending in federal court. They are trying to persuade a judge to protect Lake Oahe, a Missouri River reservoir and their water source.