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Bismarck, N.D. (AP) The state mineral resource director says a proposal to move oil from northwestern North Dakota into a pipeline from Canada has led to more interest in other ways of getting the oil to market.

A recent study outlined three options for a pipeline from the Williston Basin to connect to the TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone Pipeline starting in southern Saskatchewan.

State Mineral Resource Director Lynn Helms discussed the study at a recent oil and gas meeting in Regina, Saskatchewan. He says North Dakota companies are looking at it, but other proposals have come up as well.

Helms says a rail station at Stanley is being upgraded to ship crude oil to Oklahoma. He says that's a temporary fix until new pipelines come on line and he says it shows confidence in North Dakota crude.

Information from: KCND-FM, http://www.prairiepublic.org (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-11-09 0902CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list