Equinor Energy v. Ndic

Summary

The Court held that the North Dakota Industrial Commission lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the private parties' dispute over saltwater gathering costs. The Commission's regulatory authority over saltwater disposal did not include adjudicatory authority over contractual disputes, and the statutory authority to determine costs of operating a well covered production costs but not post-production costs. Because saltwater gathering is a post-production cost, the Court reversed the district court and vacated the Commission's order.