Bakken Rig Count Drops to 23 as Three Rigs Depart

North Dakota's active drilling rig count fell to 23 on Monday, July 6, representing a net decrease of two from the previous day. According to live rig data, one new rig commenced operations while three were released.

The sole new rig spudded for Petro-Hunt, L.L.C. in Billings County. Three rigs were removed from service: the Patterson 806 rig, working for Enerplus Resources USA Corporation in Dunn County; the Nabors B 13 rig, working for Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. in McKenzie County; and the Noble 2 rig, working for Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation, also in McKenzie County. No rigs were reported to have moved locations.

The current count of 23 active rigs continues a gradual downward trend. The tally is down three rigs from one week ago, on June 29, 2026, when 26 rigs were active. It is also down four rigs from one month ago, on June 6, 2026, when 27 rigs were active.

The recent rig activity occurs as long-term infrastructure planning for the region advances. According to a report from Bing News, a proposed natural gas pipeline called the Bakken East has seen its planned pipe diameters upgraded, signaling higher-than-anticipated demand. WBI Energy Transmission Inc. is designing the approximately 400-mile line to run from near Watford City to Mapleton.

Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, stated that the pipe size was increased from 36 inches to 42 inches for the first 134 miles and from 36 inches to 30 inches for a 162-mile middle stretch. Kringstad told the Grand Forks Herald this upgrade means more capacity for customers and is "good news across the board for the eastern half of North Dakota."

The increased capacity is generating optimism among economic developers for future industrial growth tied to reliable energy supply. Keith Lund, President and CEO of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp., said, "I would say the greater the capacity, the greater the opportunity for northeast North Dakota as well as the state of North Dakota." Lund noted that expanding natural gas access ranks very high on his organization's priorities for business development.

While the pipeline project remains in planning stages, the infrastructure expansion is viewed as a positive long-term signal for the basin's natural gas market, potentially supporting future drilling activity by providing additional market outlets for associated gas produced from oil wells in the Bakken.