How we serve with the pipeline compliance team

When Hunter Eslinger interned at Dakota Gasification Company (Dakota Gas) in 2015, he never imagined it would lead him to a career as a pipeline engineer, a role he had never even considered. Yet, it seems fate had that path planned for him all along. He joined the company full-time in early 2019. Now with more than six years under his belt, Eslinger’s confidence has grown, as has his perspective about the important role that pipeline engineers play in the energy industry.

That’s not bragging. Rather Eslinger, who is the sole pipeline engineer at Dakota Gas, a subsidiary of Basin Electric, says those who serve in the role at facilities across the country are important because they’re a key component to making sure pipelines remain safe, efficient, and compliant with regulations.

The role of pipeline engineer has many responsibilities, he says, but the priority is integrity management. “That entails a wide variety of different tasks, but for the most part it’s making sure that what goes into the pipe stays in the pipe.”

In Dakota Gas’ case, that means carbon dioxide (CO2) and synthetic natural gas. The company’s pipelines and the products delivered through them include a 205-mile pipeline that delivers CO2 to customers in Canada, and an approximately 7-mile system of pipelines that deliver CO2 to six geologic sequestration wells located north of Dakota Gas. The facility also transports synthetic natural gas via 35-mile and 3-mile pipelines to the Northern Border Pipeline near Hebron, North Dakota, and the neighboring Antelope Valley Station, respectively.

Over the course of his work, Eslinger has gotten to know the pipelines well. He even helped design the system that delivers CO2 for sequestration—something he says might be a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” In all, he helped create a piping and instrumentation diagram, the design and bid package, reviewed contractors’ proposals, and helped with onsite construction coordination. “It was a very rewarding project to be a part of,” he says, “from inception to finished project to seeing it put in the ground.”

Not bad for a guy who didn’t initially have the role of pipeline engineer on his career radar. Looking back, however, it’s easy for him to see the opportunities that led him in that direction. Opportunities started while Eslinger was still in school studying mechanical engineering at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He interned at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant during the construction of the facility’s urea plant in 2016, noting most of his work “involved verifying that the equipment being installed matched the piping and instrumentation diagrams.” He also interned as a mechanical engineer in 2018 at the Falkirk Mine near Underwood, North Dakota, where he worked on a project to replace a coal silo feed conveyor.

In his role today, he says he must be adaptable because the job is fluid. He doesn’t know what a typical work week might mean, because no two days are the same. However, they often start the same by reviewing that day’s priorities list. He typically checks to see what the maintenance and operations teams are working on and troubleshoots with them, if needed. He also frequently meets with the operations and planning teams to ensure projects are on track. Usually, there are several projects going on at once.

His role has enhanced Eslinger’s multitasking skills, while keeping top of mind the primary responsibility of the job: to ensure the safe functioning of the pipeline and transfer of products.

“It’s important that we ensure the products here at Dakota Gas are delivered in a safe, reliable, and cost-effective way through the pipeline,” he says. “My responsibility for pipeline integrity is a commitment to the members that I will ensure our pipelines always remain safe and reliable.”

Although Eslinger didn’t originally consider pipeline engineering as a career—it’s been a good fit, he says—there was one thing he’s always wanted, and that was the opportunity to make a difference. He says he believes he got into a good field where he can do just that.

“I went into mechanical engineering for a variety of things I could pursue, and pipeline engineering was only one of them,” he says. “For me this job is all about making sure we’re doing things right, that we’re maintaining the integrity of the pipeline. I don’t ever want to be responsible for a negative reaction, because that would not only impact us but could affect the industry as a whole.”

Disclaimer: As of Sept. 8, 2025, Eslinger moved into a new role as the compliance supervisor at Dakota Gas.