Crude Oil flows through New Pipeline in North Dakota while politicians fight over Keystone XL pipeline

According to reports, about 84,000 barrels of crude oil have started to flow through a new pipeline which connected North Dakota's sprawling oil fields to Wyoming's oil hub. The new line is a few hundred miles from planned path of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

In West Texas, a new pipeline has been activated by engineers. The reports stated that the pipeline delivers crude from Permian Basin to refineries near Houston. Government officials from Kansas, Iowa and South Dakota have been examining the route of the path of pipeline extensions that would pass nearby the states.

Keystone XL pipeline project has been waiting for a final decision from a long time. According to the reports, more than 11,600 miles of pipeline has been to the domestic oil network of the country. In the last ten years, the pipeline network has been increased by about a quarter. The increase has been dwarfing Keystone. The reports stated that more than 3 million barrels per day of capacity have been added in past three years.

Keystone XL pipeline project is still in limbo and the petroleum industry has decided to look for alternatives. Recently, the industry has pushed everywhere else to get oil to market. Rob DeSai, an equity analyst with Edward Jones, works on the energy industry. According to DeSai, "There's been a lot of growth - we're really positive on it in general. The oil that's being produced in the US, in many cases, it's basically in the middle of nowhere. You need new infrastructure to get that oil to market".

Several environmental groups have stood against Keystone XL pipeline project. According to them, the pipeline could pose several kinds of threats, like leaks and the climate change. The success has encouraged other local protest groups to challenge other projects.