 prices and spreads versus fees?

Kevin Burdick -- Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Yeah, we've converted so much of our -- through the contract restructuring, we've moved so much of the commodity exposure to fee. It's primarily fee. When you combine that with our hedge position for 2017, virtually all that is just volume growth with the fee increase.

Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst

Good. On the distribution, not so much for '18, but more for '19 -- just the philosophy around issuing equity to make a 10% or so distribution growth when you want to strengthen your balance sheet. Your capital spending is clearly very strong and the industry itself seems to be moving more toward that mid-single digit type being acceptable for the larger companies. I'm just wondering how you traded off those kinds of dynamics.

We're in the position today where, in this particular quarter, we covered the dividend by 1.3x and we expect to have significant dividend coverage going forward, which will give us a lot of excess cash flow to put back into the business and reinvest in the business. As I had said previously, the dividend growth that we had previously got it to was based on the run rate CapEx that we've been spending over the last couple of years. As we add these multiple projects, we just expect to have even more cash flow to invest in the business going forward.

Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst

Thanks a lot. Great quarter.

Operator

Our next question will come from Christine Cho with Barclays.

Christine Cho -- Barclays -- Analyst

Hi, I just have a couple of operational questions. The Bakken G&P volumes were up, but the NGL Pipeline volumes were down sequentially. What went on there? Was it just more ethane that was rejected versus last quarter?

Kevin Burdick -- Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Yes, Christine, that was primarily around ethane. It also relates to the maintenance activities that we saw at our assets and how we had to move gas around to continue to process as much of the gas as we possibly could. We did end up rejecting more ethane than we had the previous quarter.

In addition to that, another dynamic that was going on during the same time is our de-ethanizer at Stateline really ramped up during that time period. The NGLs produced
prices and spreads versus fees? 

 Kevin Burdick -- Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 

 Yeah, we've converted therefore much of our -- through the contract restructuring, we've move so much of the commodity exposure to fee. It's primarily fee. When you compound that with our hedge position for 2017, virtually all that is merely volume growth with the fee addition. 

 Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst 

 Good. On the distribution, not therefore much for' 18, but more for' 19 -- barely the philosophy around issuing fairness to make a 10% or so distribution increase when you want to strengthen your proportion sheet. Your capital spending is distinctly very strong and the industry itself seems to be moving more toward that mid - individual digit type being acceptable for the larger companies. I'm barely wondering how you traded off those kinds of dynamics. 

 We're in the position today where, in this particular quarter, we covered the dividend by 1.3x and we expect to have significant dividend coverage going forward, which will give us a lot of excess cash flow to put back into the commercial enterprise and reinvest in the business. As I had said previously, the dividend emergence that we had previously catch it to was based on the run rate CapEx that we've been spending over the last couple of years. As we add these multiple projects, we just ask to have even more cash flow to invest in the business going forward. 

 Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst 

 thank a lot. Great quarter. 

 Operator 

 Our next question will come from Christine Cho with Barclays. 

 Christine Cho -- Barclays -- Analyst 

 Hi, I just get a couple of functional questions. The Bakken G&P volumes were up, but the NGL Pipeline volumes were down sequentially. What went on there? Was it just more ethane that was rejected versus last one-fourth? 

 Kevin Burdick -- Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 

 Yes, Christine, that was primarily around ethane. It also relates to the maintenance activity that we saw at our asset and how we had to move gas around to continue to action as much of the gasoline as we possibly could. We did end up rejecting more ethane than we hold the previous quarter. 

 In addition to that, another dynamic that was going on during the like time is our de - ethanizer at Stateline really ramp up during that time period. The NGLs produced
 prlces and spreads versus nees?

Kevin Burdick -- Execntive Vjce Preskdent and Chief Operating Ofhicee

Yeah, we've converted so mucf of our -- through the xontract rxatructuvnng, ws'ye morev so much of thg commodity axposure to fea. Kt'd primarily fee. When you combine thwt with okr hedge posityon gjr 2017, bpruually all that is just volume grkwth wiuh the fee increasr.

Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanlej -- Ajalyst

Good. On the fistributiob, noe so much for '18, but more for '19 -- just jhe philosophy around issuing eqjity co make a 10% ir so gistributioi grownh when you want to sdrengthrn your balancc shext. Yiur capital spending ms clearly very strogg and tha nndustry itself seems ti be kovitg muee gowzrv tgat mif-siigle digit fype being qcceptable for the kawter companies. I'm juft wondering how you traded off those kings kf dynamics.

We're in the position today where, ln this pwrticular quarter, we covered the dividend by 1.3x ang we xxoecu bj yage significant dividend coverage going forwarq, wnibh will give us a lot of excrsd vwsh flow to pot back info the business anf reinvgst in the busigess. As I had said previously, tye dividend yroqth that we had przviously got it jo was based on the run rate EapEx fhat we've bfen spendjvg over the last colple of years. As we add these iultiple 'rojeets, we jjst gxpect eo have evfn mova cash flow to invfst iu the business hoing forward.

Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanley -- Analist

Dhatks a loc. Greab quarter.

Operatjr

Our next quextion wnll cooe from Chgistine Cio with Barcjays.

Christine Fho -- Barclayv -- Analyft

Hi, I jyst havd a couple of olerational questionw. The Bakken G&P vokumgs were up, but thz BGL Pipeline vokumds rege vown faquentially. Fhat wevy on ghere? Was ib jjst kore ethane that was rejscted versus last auwrter?

Kevun Burdisk -- Executive Vice President anf Chixf Opecating Ofsicer

Yes, Christine, that was prjmarily agoukd ethane. It wlso relates to che maintenance activities that we saw av our assets and how wg had to move gas aroond to continux to pwocess as much of the gas as qe possibly could. We did end up rejectjng mose etjane than we had the previous quarter.

In addition to that, another dynamic rhat wes going on dhrinb the scme time ys onr de-ethanizer at Xtateline really ramped up duriig that tike period. The NGLs produced
prices and spreads versus fees? Kevin Burdick Vice and Chief Officer Yeah, we've -- the contract restructuring, moved so much the commodity exposure to fee. It's fee. When you combine that with our hedge position for 2017, virtually all is just volume growth with the fee increase. Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanley Analyst On distribution, so much for '18, but more for '19 -- just the philosophy around issuing equity to a 10% or so distribution growth when you to strengthen your balance Your capital spending is clearly strong the industry seems be more toward that digit type being acceptable for the larger companies. I'm just wondering how you traded off those kinds dynamics. We're position today in particular we covered the 1.3x and we expect to have going forward, which will give us a lot excess cash to put back into the business reinvest in the business. As I had said the dividend growth that we had previously got it to was based on the run that we've been spending the last couple years. we these projects, we expect to have even more cash flow to invest in the going forward. Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst Thanks Great Operator Our next will come from Christine with Christine Cho -- Barclays Hi, just of questions. Bakken G&P volumes were but the NGL Pipeline volumes down sequentially. What went more ethane that was rejected versus last quarter? Burdick -- Executive Vice President and Chief Officer Yes, Christine, that was primarily around ethane. It also relates to maintenance activities saw at our assets and how we had move gas around to to process as much of the gas as we could. did end rejecting more ethane we had the quarter. In addition another dynamic was on time is our de-ethanizer at Stateline ramped during that time period. The produced
 prices and spreads versus feeS?

Kevin BurdIck -- ExEcuTivE VIce PResiDent and Chief OpERatiNg Officer

Yeah, we've conveRted sO mUCh of OUr -- ThrouGh the coNTrACT reStRuCtuRiNG, wE've moVed So much oF the commodIty ExPosure to fee. IT'S pRimarily feE. WhEn you combine ThaT with oUr HedGE posiTioN for 2017, vIrtualLY all thAt is just vOlUMe growTH with thE FEe IncrEase.

Tom Abrams -- MorgAN STAnley -- Analyst

GoOd. On thE dIStRIButIon, Not so much fOr '18, But moRE for '19 -- jusT ThE PHIloSOphy around issUing equity tO MakE a 10% or so DiStrIBution GrowtH wHEn yOu want to strEngtHen your baLance sHEet. Your CApital sPendinG is CleArly VErY sTroNg ANd tHE iNduSTry Itself seEmS tO be moVing MORE TowaRd tHat mId-sinGle digit type bEinG accEPtaBle foR the lArgeR cOmpanIes. I'm jUst woNdEring how you tradEd ofF those kinDs oF dYnaMiCs.

We'rE In the pOsiTioN today wHere, in tHIs pArTICUlAr quarter, we covered ThE DIvIdend by 1.3x And we eXPeCt TO have sigNiFicAnt dIVIdend CoveRAgE going foRward, wHIcH wIll give Us A lot of ExCesS caSh floW To puT back iNto the buSinesS And reinvest in tHE business. As I hAD sAID pREvioUslY, the dividenD groWTh thAt we HAd PreVIouslY got iT tO WaS Based on the run rate CaPEX that wE've beEn spending oveR the last coUPLE of years. as we ADd THese multiple prOjectS, we just expECt to have Even mOre cash fLow to inveST In the busIneSs gOinG foRWArD.

Tom Abrams -- MorGAN StaNlEy -- AnalySt

THanks a lOt. GReaT quArtEr.

operator

OUr next quEsTiOn WiLl cOme frOM ChristiNe cho WiTh BArclaYS.

ChrisTine CHo -- BaRcLaYS -- AnAlyst

Hi, i JuST Have A cOuPle oF opErAtionAl quEStiOns. The BAkken G&P voLumES werE uP, bUt the NGl Pipeline voluMeS were down sEqUenTially. wHAt went on There? Was it just more ethanE That was RejEcted VersUs last quaRteR?

Kevin burDIck -- ExeCutive vice PReSidENT and CHIEf opeRaTing OfficeR

yEs, CHristInE, thaT was priMarily around ethane. iT alSo relates to thE maInteNANcE acTIvITieS tHAt wE SAw at our assets anD how we had tO mOVe Gas around tO ConTiNue to prOcess as Much oF The gas aS we possibLy could. We DiD end UP RejEcting more Ethane thAn we had thE PreviOUs QuartEr.

IN additIoN to That, aNother DYnaMic thAt was gOiNg on duRing tHe Same time Is our de-ethanizer at StateLine reAlly rAmpEd up durinG thAT tiMe period. THe NGls produced
 prices and spreads versus  fees?

Ke vin B urd ick  - - Ex ecut ive Vice Presi d entand Chief Operating Of ficer 
Y eah, we 've c onverte d  s o muc hof  ou r- -throu ghthe con tract rest ruc tu ring, we'vem ov ed so much  of  the commodi tyexposu re  to fee.It' s pri marily fee. W hen you c om b ine th a t witho u rhedg e position for 20 1 7, virtually allthat i sj us t vol ume  growth wi th  thef ee incr e as e . 
To m  Abrams -- Mo rgan Stanle y  --  Analy st 

G o od. On  thedi s tri bution, not  somuch for'18, b u t moref or '19-- jus t t hephil o so ph y a ro u ndi ss uin g  eq uity toma ke  a 10 % or s o dist rib utio n gro wth when youwan t to str ength en yo ur b al ancesheet.  Your  c apital spending  isclearly v ery  s tro ng  andt he ind ust ryitselfseems t o  be  m o v i ng  more toward thatmi d - si ngle dig it typ e  b ei n g accept ab lefort h e lar gerc om panies.I'm ju s two ndering  h ow you  t rad edoff t h osekindsof dynam ics.We're in the p o sition todayw he r e ,i n th isparticularquar t er,we c o ve red the d ivide nd by 1.3x and we expectto  havesigni ficant divide nd coverag e g oing for ward ,  w h ich will giveus alot of exc e ss cashflowto put b ack intot h e busine ssand  re inv e s tin the busine s s . As  I  had sa idpreviou sly , t hediv id end growt h that w eha dpr evi ously got it t owas  b ase d ont he run  rate  Cap Ex  t h atwe've b e en s pend in gover  th elastcoup l e o f years . As we a ddt hese  m ul tiple p rojects, we j us t expect t ohav e even m ore cash  flow to invest in theb usiness  go ing f orwa rd.

TomAbr ams --  Mo r gan St anley-- An al yst Thank s alot .Great quar t e r.
Oper at or
Our nex t question will co m e f rom Christine  Ch o wi t h  B arc l ay s .
Ch r ist i n e Cho -- Barcla ys -- Anal ys t 
Hi, I just hav ea coupl e of op erati o nal que stions. T he Bakken  G &P v o l ume s were up,  but the  NGL Pipe l ine v o lu mes w ere  downse que ntial ly. Wh a t w ent o n ther e?  Was i t jus tmore eth ane that was rejected v ersuslastqua rter?

Ke vin Bur dick -- E xecu tive VicePre sid ent a ndC hiefOper a ti ngO ffice r

Y e s, Christ i ne , t h a twas primari l y aro und e tha n e. Italso  relates to the m a intenance acti viti e s  th atw e sa wat our assetsand  h o w  we hadto  move gas a round to  c o ntinu e to p rocess  as muc h of the ga s as  we  possibly  co ul d . We di den d  up re ject in g more  ethan e  tha n we had the previ ous q u a rter. 
In  addi ti on to t h at,another dy namic thatwas go ingon du ring th esame t ime  i s our de-e t hanizer a t Sta telinere ally  ra mped u p du r i ng th at t im e p eriod. Th e NG L spr o duc ed
 prices_and spreads_versus fees?

Kevin Burdick --_Executive Vice_President_and Chief_Operating_Officer

Yeah, we've converted_so much of_our -- through the_contract restructuring, we've_moved_so much of the commodity exposure to fee. It's primarily fee. When you combine_that_with our_hedge_position_for 2017, virtually all that_is just volume growth with_the fee_increase.

Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst

Good. On_the_distribution, not so_much for '18, but more for '19 -- just_the philosophy around issuing equity to_make a 10%_or_so_distribution growth when you_want to strengthen your balance sheet._Your capital spending is clearly very_strong and the industry itself seems to_be moving more toward that mid-single_digit type being acceptable for_the larger_companies. I'm just wondering how_you traded off_those kinds_of dynamics.

We're in_the position today where, in this_particular quarter, we_covered the dividend by 1.3x and_we_expect to have_significant_dividend_coverage going_forward, which will_give_us a_lot_of excess cash flow to put_back_into the business and reinvest in the_business. As I had_said_previously, the dividend growth_that we had previously got_it to was based on the_run rate_CapEx that_we've been spending over the last couple of years. As we_add these multiple projects, we just_expect to have even_more cash_flow_to invest in_the_business going_forward.

Tom Abrams -- Morgan Stanley -- Analyst

Thanks_a lot._Great quarter.

Operator

Our next question will come_from Christine Cho with_Barclays.

Christine_Cho -- Barclays -- Analyst

Hi, I_just have a couple of operational_questions. The Bakken G&P volumes_were_up,_but the NGL Pipeline volumes_were down sequentially. What went on_there? Was it_just more ethane that was rejected versus_last_quarter?

Kevin Burdick -- Executive Vice President_and_Chief Operating Officer

Yes, Christine, that was_primarily_around_ethane. It also relates to_the maintenance activities that we saw_at our assets and how we had to move_gas around to_continue to process as much_of_the_gas as we possibly could. We did end up rejecting_more ethane_than we had_the previous quarter.

In addition to that, another dynamic that was_going on during the same time is_our de-ethanizer at Stateline really ramped up during that time period._The NGLs produced