If the struggle over construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline can be considered political theater, it might help to think of the recent permit denial by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a six-and-a-half week intermission.

In other words, this show will go on, analysts and industry players agree.

“Practically, it has little impact given President Trump’s ability to overturn [after he takes office],” Jeff Quigley, director of energy markets for Stratas Advisors, told Hart Energy. “President Obama has worked hard for the last eight years toward being an environmental leader and this goes towards trying to preserve that legacy.”

In the eyes of Harold Hamm, CEO of major Bakken producer Continental Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLR), the pipeline controversy has been an annoyance, but a momentary one, for operator Energy Transfer Partners LP (NYSE: ETP).

“These folks jumped through all the hoops,” Hamm told Hart Energy. “There were hearings for over a year. I think these tribes have, unfortunately, been taken advantage of by the environmentalists. This is a temporary setback.”

While Continental is not a customer of Dakota Access, it is one of the largest producers in the region. In the third quarter of 2016, the company brought some curtailed wells in the Bakken back online and plans to increase the number of frack crews from two to four by year-end. The company’s third-quarter Bakken production averaged 107,929 barrels of oil equivalent per day.

A Dec. 5 press release from Energy Transfer and Sunoco Logistics Partners LP (NYSE: SXL) conveyed barely concealed exasperation with what they described as a “purely political action.”

“This is nothing new from this administration, since over the last four months the administration has demonstrated by its action and inaction that it intended to delay a decision in this matter until President Obama is out of office,” the companies said.

The companies expressed their commitment to completing the project without additional rerouting.

Analysts at Stifel Financial Corp. agreed that the pipeline would move forward and that President-elect Trump will grant easements for Lake Oahe that the Army denied. However, the analysts warned that the process may not go easily.

“We would expect the protesters to remain in place, and support for the [Standing Rock Sioux Tribe] only appears to be growing,” Stifel said in a report released on Dec. 5. “In addition, it was reported over the weekend that 2,000 veterans have joined protesters. How protesters respond to the incoming administration remains uncertain and will only play out with time.”

Environmentalists were content to enjoy a victory lap immediately following the decision.

“Dakota Access took a reckless gamble with its investors’ money when it built its pipeline to either side of the river without the easement,” said Jan Hasselman, an Earthjustice attorney who represented the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in its lawsuit, on the organization’s website.

“Despite the extraordinary public controversy and overwhelming opposition to this pipeline, Dakota Access rejected the government’s request to voluntarily cease construction. Today, Dakota Access and its investors reap the consequences of this reckless gamble.”

Leslie Haines contributed to this story.

Joseph Markman can be reached at jmarkman@hartenergy.com or @JHMarkman.