EXHIBIT 10.18

                                                       T1018F

                NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY
                         U. S. SHIPPERS
                        SERVICE AGREEMENT

This Agreement  ("the Service Agreement") is made and entered
into at Omaha, Nebraska as of August 30, 1991, by and between
NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY, hereinafter referred to as
"Company" and MOBIL OIL CANADA, a partnership, hereinafter
referred to as "Shipper".

WHEREAS, Company's investors and lenders rely on Certificates of
Public Convenience and Necessity granted by the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission "FERC" and on the Tariff for the return of
and the return on all funds invested in or loaned to the Company;
and

WHEREAS, the transportation of natural gas shall be effectuated
pursuant to Part 157 or Part 284 of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission's Regulations; and

WHEREAS, Company recognizes that it will be a condition to the
initial effectiveness of this Service Agreement that,
notwithstanding any other provision of the Tariff or this Service
Agreement, the FERC shall have issued a nonappealable certificate
with terms and conditions which achieve substantially the results
requested by the Company, and such FERC certificate having been
approved by Shipper (such approval not to be unreasonably
withheld) and accepted by the Company.

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of their respective covenants and
agreements hereinafter set out, the parties hereto covenant and
agree as follows:

Article 1 - Basic Receipts

Shipper shall on each day beginning with Shipper's Billing
Commencement Date, as defined in Section 1 of the General Terms
and Conditions of Company's FERC Gas Tariff and Article 7 herein,
be entitled to tender and, following tender, deliver to Company,
at each of Shipper's Points of Receipt, a quantity of gas not in
excess of the Daily Receipt Quantity for such Point of Receipt
for such day, as defined in such Section 1, and Company shall, on
such day, as defined in such Section 1, and Company shall, on
such day, take receipt of the quantity of gas so tendered and
delivered by Shipper at such Point of Receipt.

Article 2 - Excess Receipts

If Shipper shall desire to tender to Company on any day beginning
with Shipper's Billing Commencement Date, at any of Shipper's
Points of Receipt, a quantity of gas in excess of Shipper's Daily
Receipt Quantity for such Point of Receipt for such day, it shall
notify Company of such desire.  If Company in its sole judgment,
determines that it has available the necessary capacity to
receive and transport all or any part of such excess quantity and
make deliveries in respect thereof, and that the performance of
Company's obligations to other Shippers under their Service
Agreements will not be adversely affected thereby, Company may
elect to receive from Shipper said excess quantity or part
thereof, and shall so notify Shipper.  Scheduling of Excess
Receipts will be in accordance with Subsection 5.3 of Rate
Schedule T-1, Section 5 of Rate Schedule IT-1 and Subsection 5.1
in Rate Schedule OT-1.  If more than one of the Shippers subject
to Rate Schedule T-1 shall notify Company of a desire to tender
gas to Company pursuant to Article 2 of their respective Service
Agreements on any day, Company, if it elects to receive
less than all of such gas, shall, except as otherwise required by
Subsection 5.3 of Rate Schedule T-1 and Subsection 13.73 of the
General Terms and Conditions, allocate among such Shippers the
aggregate quantity it so elects to receive in proportion to their
respective Total Maximum Receipt Quantities or in such other
equitable manner as Company's operating conditions and the
availability of its facilities may reasonably require.

Receipt of gas under this Article 2 which Company has previously
elected to receive from Shipper may be curtailed partially or
entirely at any time or from time to time by Company at will, in
which event Company shall so notify Shipper of its decision.

Article 3 - Deliveries

Company shall deliver gas to Shipper at the Point(s) of Delivery
and under the conditions specified in Exhibit A hereto and in
accordance with Section l3 of the General Terms and Conditions.

Article 4 - Payments

Shipper shall make payments to Company in accordance with Rate
Schedules T-1 and OT-1 and the other applicable terms and
provisions of this Service Agreement.

Article 5 - Change in Tariff Provisions

Upon notice to Shipper, Company shall have the right to file with
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission any changes in the terms
of any of its Rate Schedules, General Terms and Conditions or
Form of Service Agreement as Company may deem necessary, and to
make such changes effective at such times as Company desires and
is possible under applicable law. Shipper may protest any filed
changes before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and
exercise any other rights it may have with respect thereto.

Article 6 - Cancellation of Prior Agreements

When this Service Agreement becomes effective, it shall
supersede, cancel and terminate the following Agreements:

Precedent Agreement dated July 16, 1990.

Article 7 - Term

This Service Agreement shall become effective upon its execution
and shall under all circumstances continue in effect in
accordance with the Tariff for fifteen (15) years after the
Billing Commencement Date, defined herein as the later of
November 1, 1992, or the i-service date of the facilities
certificate for construction and operation in a Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission proceeding prosecuted by Company in
reliance upon this Agreement, and shall continue in effect
thereafter until terminated by either Shipper or Company by not
less than six (6) months prior written notice to the other.
Provided however, this Agreement will terminate if the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission authorization to construct and
operate the facilities under terms and conditions which achieve
substantially the result requested by the company has not been
received and approved by Shipper (such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld) and accepted by Company by December 31,
1993.  Service rendered pursuant to this Service Agreement shall
be abandoned upon termination of this Agreement.

This Service Agreement shall automatically terminate and be of no
further force and effect unless Shipper shall furnish a proper
security arrangement, in accordance with Subsection 9.1 of Rate
Schedule T-1, to the Company within thirty (30) days after notice
from the Company subsequent to the occurrence of any of the
following events:

     The filing by Shipper or its parent of a voluntary petition
     in bankruptcy or the entry of a decree or order by a court
     having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Shipper as
     bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a
     petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
     composition of or in respect of the Shipper under the
     Federal Bankruptcy Act or any other applicable federal or
     state law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
     trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the
     Shipper or any substantial part of its property, or the
     ordering of the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs,
     with said order or decree continuing unstayed and in effect
     for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days.
     
     A failure by Shipper to pay in full the amount of any
     invoice rendered by Company shall continue for ten (10) days
     from the date payment is due.
     
Termination of this U.S. Shippers Service Agreement shall not
relieve Company and Shipper of the obligation to correct any
volume imbalances hereunder, or Shipper to pay money due
hereunder to Company and shall be in addition to any other
remedies that Company may have.

Article 8 - Applicable Law and Submission to Jurisdiction

This Service Agreement and Company's Tariff, and the rights and
obligations of Company and Shipper thereunder are subject to all
relevant and United States lawful statutes, rules, regulations
and orders of duly constituted authorities having jurisdiction.
Subject to the foregoing, this Service Agreement shall be
governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the
State of Nebraska.  For purposes of legal proceedings, this
Service Agreement shall be deemed to have been made in the State
of Nebraska and to be performed there, and the Courts of that
State shall have jurisdiction over all disputes which may arise
under this Service Agreement, provided always that nothing herein
contained shall prevent the Company from proceeding at its
election against the Shipper in the Courts of any other state,
Province or country.

At the Company's request, the Shipper shall irrevocably appoint
an agent in Nebraska to receive, for it and on its behalf,
service of process in connection with any judicial proceeding in
Nebraska relating to the Agreement.  Such service shall be deemed
completed on delivery to such process agent (even if not
forwarded to and received by the Shipper).  If said agent ceases
to act as a process agent within Nebraska on behalf of Shipper,
the Shipper shall appoint a substitute process agent within
Nebraska and deliver to the Company a copy of the new agent's
acceptance of that appointment within 30 days.

Article 9 - Successors and Assigns

After establishing creditworthiness in accordance with Section 9
of Rate Schedule T-1, any person which shall succeed by purchase,
amalgamation, merger or consolidation to the properties,
substantially as an entirety, of Shipper or of Company, as the
case may be, and which shall assume all obligations under
Shipper's Service Agreement of Shipper or Company, as the case
may be, shall be entitled to the rights, and shall be subject to
the obligations, of its predecessor under Shipper's Service
Agreement.  Either party to a Shipper's Service Agreement may
pledge or charge the same under the provisions of any mortgage,
deed of trust, indenture, security agreement or similar
instrument which it has executed, or assign such Service
Agreement to any affiliated Person (which for such purpose shall
mean any person which controls, is under common control with or
is controlled by such party).   Nothing contained in this Article
9 shall, however, operate to release predecessor Shipper from its
obligation under its Service Agreement unless Company shall, in
its sole discretion, consent in writing to such release, which it
shall not do unless it concludes that, on the basis of the facts
available to it, such release is not likely to have a substantial
adverse effect upon other Shippers or other Persons who may
become liable to provide funds to Company to enable it to meet
any of its obligations.  Company shall not release any Shipper
from its obligations under its Service Agreement without the
written consent of the other firm Shippers unless: (a) such
release is effected pursuant to an assignment of obligations by
such Shipper, and the assumption thereof by the assignee, and the
terms of such assignment and assumption render the obligations
being assigned and assumed no more conditional and no less
absolute than those at the time provided therein; and (b) such
release is not likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon
Company or the other Shippers.  For the purposes hereof, and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any release of
any Shipper from its obligations under its Service Agreement
shall be deemed likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon
Company or the other Shippers if the assignee of such obligations
has a credit standing which is not at least equal to the credit
standing of the assignor of such obligations (credit standings in
each case as reflected by the ratings on outstanding debt
securities by Moody's Investors Service, Standard and Poor's
Corporation or another rating service acceptable to all Shippers
to the extent available or by other appropriate objective
measures).  Shipper shall, at Company's request, execute such
instruments and take such other action as may be desirable to
give effect to any such assignment of Company's rights under such
Shipper's Service Agreement or to give effect to the right of a
Person whom the Company has specified pursuant to Section 6 of
the General Terms and Conditions of Company's FERC Gas Tariff as
the Person to whom payment of amounts invoiced by Company shall
be made; provided, however, that: (a) Shipper shall not be
required to execute any such instruments or take any such other
action the effect of which is to modify the respective rights and
obligations of either Shipper or Company under this  Service
Agreement; and (b) Shipper shall be under no obligation at any
time to determine the status or amount of any payments which may
be due from Company to any Person whom the Company has specified
pursuant to said Section 6 as the Person to whom payment of
amounts invoiced by Company shall be made.

Article 10 - Loss of Governmental Authority, Gas Supply,
Transportation or Market

Without limiting its other responsibilities and obligations under
this Service Agreement, the Shipper acknowledges that it is
responsible for obtaining and assumes the risk of loss of the
following: (1) gas removal permits, (2) export and import
licenses, (3) gas supply, (4) markets and (5) transportation
upstream and downstream of the Company's pipeline system.
Notwithstanding the loss of one of the items enumerated above,
Shipper shall continue to be liable for payment to the Company of
the transportation charges as provided for in this Service
Agreement.

Article 11 - Other Operating Provisions

(This Article to be utilized when necessary to specify other
operating provisions.)

Article 12 - Exhibit A of Service Agreement, Rate Schedules and
General Terms and Conditions

Company's Rate Schedules and General Terms and Conditions, which
are on file with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and in
effect, and Exhibit A hereto are all applicable to this Service
Agreement and are hereby incorporated in, and made a part of,
this Service Agreement.  In the event that the terms and
conditions herein are in conflict with the General Terms and
Conditions in Company's FERC Gas Tariff, the terms and conditions
of this Service Agreement are controlling.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The parties hereto have caused this Agreement
to be duly executed as of the day and year first set forth above.

                                 
ATTEST:                          NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE
                                 COMPANY
                                 
/s/ Janet K. Place               BY:   /s/J. C. Pyle
Assistant Secretary              Title:Vice President
                                 
ATTEST:                          MOBIL OIL CANADA, by its
                                 Managing Partner, Mobil Oil
                                 Canada, Limited
/s/Ed Brown                      
Assistant Corporate Secretary    BY:   /s/R. F. Guerrant
                                 Title:  Vice President
P:place\T1profor

<PAGE>
                   EXHIBIT A TO U.S. SHIPPERS
                  SERVICE AGREEMENT (Continued)



COMPANY             -    Northern Border Pipeline Company

COMPANY'S ADDRESS   -    1111 South 103rd Street
                         Omaha, Nebraska  68124-1000
                         
SHIPPER   -              Mobil Oil Canada

SHIPPER'S ADDRESS   -    P.O. Box 800
                         330 5 Avenue S.W.
                         Calgary, AB, Canada  T2P 2J7
                         Attn:  Manager, Gas Supply &
Transportation

Points of    Maximum      Maximum      Maximum       Minimum
Receipt      Receipt      Pressure     Temperature   Temperature
             Quantity
             (per day)

Point of     30,000 Mcf   1435 psig      120 F         32 F
Morgan, MT                                           

Total        30,000 Mcf                              
Maximum
Receipt
Quantity

                   EXHIBIT A TO U.S. SHIPPERS
                        SERVICE AGREEMENT

Points of    Maximum      Minimum      Minimum
Delivery     Delivery     Pressure     Temperature
             (per day)
Ventura, IA  30,000 Mcf   820 psig       32 F
                                       

This Exhibit A is made and entered into as of August 30, 1991.
On the effective date designated by the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, it shall supersede the Exhibit A dated as of  none,
19  .

Effective Date of this Exhibit A is set forth in Article 7
hereof.

<PAGE>

                                                            T1018
                NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY
                 U.S. SHIPPERS SERVICE AGREEMENT

      AMENDED EXHIBIT A TO U.S. SHIPPERS SERVICE AGREEMENT

Company:            Northern Border Pipeline Company

Company's Address:  1111 South 103rd Street
                    Omaha, Nebraska 68124-1000

Shipper:            Mobil Natural Gas Inc.
                    Attn:  Mr. Glen Hammerlindl

Shipper's Address:  330 - 5th Avenue S.W.
                    Calgary, AB, Canada  T2P 2J7

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Maximum    Minimum      Maximum
                       Role     Maximum     Receipt    Delivery     Receipt       Minimum
                      (Notes    Quantity    Pressure   Pressure   Temperature   Temperature
 Points              1 and 3)   (MCF/Day)    (PSIG)     (PSIG)        (F)           (F)

<S>                     <S>      <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>           <C>
Port of Morgan, MT      PR       30,000       1435         -          120           32
                        RD       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        DD       30,000          -         -            -            -

Buford, ND              PR       30,000       1435         -          120           32
(Secondary-Note 2)      RD       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        DD       30,000          -         -            -            -

Watford City, ND        PR       30,000       1435         -          120           32
(Secondary-Note 2)      RD       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        DD       30,000          -         -            -            -

Hebron, ND              PR       30,000       1435         -          120           32
(Secondary-Note 2)      RD       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD       30,000          -       725            -           32
                        DD       30,000          -         -            -            -

Glen Ullin, ND          PR       30,000       1435         -          120           32
(Secondary-Note 2)      RD       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD       30,000          -       725            -           32
                        DD       30,000          -         -            -            -
</TABLE>
                                
                               -1-
                
<PAGE>                
                NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY
                 U.S. SHIPPERS SERVICE AGREEMENT

AMENDED EXHIBIT A TO U.S. SHIPPERS SERVICE AGREEMENT (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Maximum    Minimum      Maximum
                       Role     Maximum     Receipt    Delivery     Receipt       Minimum
                      (Notes    Quantity    Pressure   Pressure   Temperature   Temperature
 Points              1 and 3)   (MCF/Day)    (PSIG)     (PSIG)        (F)           (F)

<S>                     <S>      <C>             <C>     <C>            <C>         <C>
Mina, SD                RD        4,500          -         -            -            -
(Secondary-Note 2)      TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD        4,500          -       750            -           32
                        DD        4,500          -         -            -            -

Aberdeen, SD            RD       25,000          -         -            -            -
(Secondary-Note 2)      TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD       25,000          -       800            -           32
                        DD       25,000          -         -            -            -

Webster, SD             RD        5,000          -         -            -            -
(Secondard-Note 2)      TP       30,000          -         -            -            - 
                        PD        5,000          -       700            -           32
                        DD        5,000          -         -            -            -

Milbank, SD             RD        8,073          -         -            -            -
(Secondary-Note 2)      TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD        8,073          -       800            -           32
                        DD        8,073          -         -            -            -

Ivanhoe, MN             RD        1,791          -         -            -            -
(Secondary-Note 2)      TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD        1,791          -       700            -           32
                        DD        1,791          -         -            -            -

Marshall, MN            RD       30,000          -         -            -            -
(Secondary-Note 2)      TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD       30,000          -       800            -           32
                        DD       30,000          -         -            -            -

Westbrook, MN           RD          500          -         -            -            -
(Secondary-Note 2)      TP       30,000          -         -            -
                        PD          500          -       800            -           32
                        DD          500          -         -            -            -

Welcome, MN             RD       30,000          -         -            -            -
(Secondary-Note 2)      TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD       30,000          -       796            -           32
                        DD       30,000          -         -            -            -
</TABLE>

                               -2-
                
<PAGE>                
                NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY
                 U.S. SHIPPERS SERVICE AGREEMENT

AMENDED EXHIBIT A TO U.S. SHIPPERS SERVICE AGREEMENT (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Maximum    Minimum      Maximum
                       Role     Maximum     Receipt    Delivery     Receipt       Minimum
                      (Notes    Quantity    Pressure   Pressure   Temperature   Temperature
 Points              1 and 3)   (MCF/Day)    (PSIG)     (PSIG)        (F)           (F)


<S>                     <S>      <C>             <C>     <C>            <C>         <C>
Ledyard, IA             RD        4,000          -         -            -            -
(Secondary-Note 2)      TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD        4,000          -       800            -           32
                        DD        4,000          -         -            -            -

Ventura, IA             RD       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        TP       30,000          -         -            -            -
                        PD       30,000          -       820            -           32
                        DD       30,000          -         -            -            -

Total Maximum
Receipt Quantity                 30,000 MCF

                     - - - - - - - - - - -

<FN>
Note 1:  The point role will be either PR for physical receipts,
         RD  for receipt by displacement, TP for transfer points, PD
         for   physical   deliveries,  and  DD   for   delivery   by
         displacement.

Note  2: Should  nominations  at secondary  receipt  and  delivery
         points be received which exceed available
         capacity,  volumes  will be scheduled in  accordance  with
         Northern Border's nomination and scheduling procedures.

Note 3:  For receipt or delivery of gas by displacement, Company
         cannot  and  does  not  have  an obligation  to  physically
         deliver  or  receive gas at these points. Volumes  will  be
         delivered or received at these point(s) only to the  extent
         that  corresponding equal or greater volumes  are  received
         or  delivered by other parties at these points on the  same
         day.   These corresponding volumes will be used to displace
         volumes nominated for delivery or receipt by Shipper.
</TABLE>








                               -3-

<PAGE>                
                
                NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY
                 U.S. SHIPPERS SERVICE AGREEMENT

AMENDED EXHIBIT A TO U.S. SHIPPERS SERVICE AGREEMENT (continued)



This Exhibit A is made and entered into as of April 28, 1994.  On
the  effective  date designated by the Federal Energy  Regulatory
Commission,  it  shall  supersede  the  Exhibit  A  dated  as  of
February 4, 1993.   The effective date of this Exhibit A is April
29, 1994.


                                 NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY
                                 
                                 
ATTEST:                          By:     Northern Plains Natural
                                         Gas Company, Operator
                                 
/s/Janet K. Place                By:     /s/Robert A. Hill
Title:  Assistant Secretary      Title:  Vice President
                                 
                                 
ATTEST:                          MOBIL NATURAL GAS INC.
                                 
/s/M.L. Burns                    By:     /s/R. F. Guerrant
                                 Title:  Attorney-in-Fact
                                 

<PAGE>


Mobil Natural Gas Inc.                  12450 GREENSPOINT DRIVE
                                        HOUSTON, TEXAS 77X 1991

                              July 23,1996
VIA FAX:  402/398-7870

Northern Border Pipeline
P. O Box 3330
Omaha, NE 68lO3-0330

Attention: Marge Shade

                                          JOINT VENTURE MARKETING

Dear Marge:

Please be advised that effective August 1, 1996, Mobil Natural
Gas Inc. (MNGI) will be doing business through a joint venture
marketing company. The new entity, PanEnergy Trading and Market
Services, L.L.C. ("PanEnergy Marketing" or "Agent") will serve as
agent for MNGI and various other affiliates of Mobil Corporation
("Mobil"), including the party ("Principal") to the
transportation contract (s) with your company, as listed on the
Exhibit "A" to this letter.

Principal warrants to you that Agent shall have authority to
perform all shipper functions under the referenced contract (s),
effective August 1, 1996 and continuing until Principal or Agent
has notified you otherwise, in writing, and you have acknowledged
the change. Authority shall include but not be limited to:

          *    Performing nominations and confirmations
          *    Applying shipper and/or producer PDAs as deemed appropriate
          *    Receiving volume statements on-line and/or via hard copy
          *    Negotiating month-to-month spot transportation discounts
          *    Adding receipt and delivery points
          *    Receiving and paying invoices for services rendered under
               the referenced contract (s)

               Authority shall exclude:
          
          *    deleting points
          *    canceling or terminating any referenced contract (s)
          *    amending any referenced contract (s) in any way not listed
               above.

Principal will hold your company harmless for all actions it
takes as a result of directions by Agent, except for any
purported cancellation, termination, or point deletion.

Correspondence involving the referenced contract (s), and
invoices for transportation for August 1996 and subsequent gas
flow should be sent to:

                    PanEnergy Trading Market Services, L L.C.
                    Attn: Gas Accounting
                    1077 Westheimer, Suite 650
                    Houston, TX 77042

Principal will of course continue to be liable for performance.
In the event Agent fails to pay you on time, in accordance with
the referenced contract (s), you may bill Principal directly.
Correspondence directly to Principal, and invoices for
transportation prior to August 1996 should be sent to or care of:

                    Mobil Natural Gas Inc.
                    Attn: Gas Volume Analyst
                    12450 Greenspoint Drive
                    Houston, TX 77060- 1991

Agent will also serve as producer/operator for purposes of
scheduling and confirming all points on your pipeline that
currently show MNGI or Principal as the producer/operator of
record. As such, Agent should have access to all systems and
reports currently accessible by MNGI.

If you have questions, please call the MNGI gas control
representative for your pipeline or Joe Woodard (713) 775-2655.



                         Very truly yours,


                         /s/Y.J. Bourgeois
                         Y. J. Bourgeois
                         Manager Equity Operations
                         (713) 775-2591


MMM:GN
Attachment

          THIS AGREEMENT made as of the 1st day of June, 1992.
BETWEEN:

          MOBIL OIL CANADA, a Partnership,
          carrying on business in the Province of Alberta
          (hereinafter called the "Assignor")
          
                                        OF FIRST PART
                              and
          
          MOBIL NATURAL GAS INC., a Delaware Corporation,
          having its Head Office in the City of Houston,
          State of Texas
          (hereinafter called the Assignee")
          
                                        OF THE SECOND PART
                              and
          
          Northern BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY, a partnership
          carrying on business in the State of Nebraska
          and other States of the United States of America
          (hereinafter called "Northern Border")
          
                                        OF THE THIRD PART
          
WHEREAS by a service agreement (firm service) (the service
Agreement") dated the 30th day of August, 1991 between Assignor
and Northern Border, the parties thereto agreed with respect to
the Transportation of natural gas.

AND WHEREAS the Service Agreement, Article 9 permits assignment
to an affiliate, and the Assignee is an affiliate of the
Assignor.

AND WHEREAS the Assignor has agreed to assign, transfer, convey
and set over unto the Assignee all its right, title, interest and
estate in and to the Service Agreement.

NOW THEREFORE THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH THAT, in consideration of
the covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto
covenant and agree as follows:

     1.  The Assignor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets
         over unto the Assignee, its successors and assigns, absolutely
         and forever, all of the Assignor' s right, title, interest and
         estate in, to and under the Service Agreement.
          
     2.  The Assignee accepts the assignment and covenants and agrees
         with theAssignor and Northern Border and each of them, that from
         and after the date of this Agreement, the Assignee will observe
         and perform the covenants and agreements of the Assignor
         contained in the Service Agreement.
          
     3.  The Assignee expressly acknowledges that in all matters
         relating to the Service Agreement subsequent to the assignment to
         the Assignee, and until thirty (30)days after the delivery of
         this Agreement properly executed to Northern Border, the Assignor
         has been acting as trustee for and as the duly authorized agent
         of the Assignee, and the Assignee does hereby expressly ratify,
         adopt and confirm all acts or omissions of the Assignor in its
         capacity as such trustee and agent to the end that all such acts
         or omissions shall for all purposes be construed as made or done
         by the Assignee.
          
     4.  Northern Border hereby consents to the Assignor assigning
         its right, title, interest and estate in the Service Agreement to
         the Assignee and agrees with the Assignor that from and after the
         date of this Agreement, it shall hold the Assignee responsible
         for the observance and performance of covenants and agreements
         contained in the Service Agreement, and agreed to be obsessedand
         performed by the Assignor, provided that nothing herein shall
         relieve the Assignor of its obligations arising pursuant to the
         Service Agreement. The Assignor releases and relieves Northern
         Border from all its obligations to the Assignor arising under the
         provisions of the Service Agreement after the date of this
         Agreement.
          
     5.  The address of the Assignee shall be:
          
         Greenspoint Drive,
         Houston, Texas 77060-191
          
     6.  This Agreement will become effective when executed by all
         parties named herein, but may be executed in one or more
         counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all
         of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
          
     7.  The Service Agreement as hereby amended is ratified and
         confirmed.
          
     8.  Nothing herein contained shall be taken as authorization for
         or consent to any further assignment of the right, title and
         interest or the obligations of the Assignee under the Service
         Agreement, other than what is permitted in the Service Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have properly executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.


MOBIL OIL CANADA, a Partnership   MOBIL NATURAL GAS INC.
by its managing partner           
                                  
MOBIL OIL CANADA, LTD.            
Per: /s/Randy E. W. Selin         Per: /s/W. L. Luthy
     AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY              AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
                                  
                                  
                                  NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY,
                                  BY:  NORTHERN PLAINS NATURAL GAS
                                  COMPANY, MANAGING PARTNER
                                  
                                  Per:/s/   J.C. Pyle
                                  AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY

THIS IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE TO THE AGREEMENT MADE AS OF THE 1ST
DAY OF JUNE, 1992 BETWEEN MOBIL OIL CANADA, MOBIL NATURAL GAS
INC. AND NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY