To dictate the taking of property to persons who don't want their land taken is odd.
No. It's totally within the law. And has been since the founding of the nation.
Pipelines are "common carriers" -- committed to shipping product for all comers, based on a published rate.
As with public roads, such "common carriers" -- basically including railroads and pipelines -- have the right of "eminent domain". They can force the sale of right-of-way in the courts, if necessary.
However, because they are less subject to terrain, pipelines are a little more flexible in these matters -- and will re-route around a stubborn property owner...if it's feasible.
On the other hand, there's no good reason to be a "stubborn property owner". With pipelines, property-owners are compensated appropriately and don't suffer any loss of use of the property -- save a brief period during construction.