Bakken Rig Count Holds at 22 as Pipeline Expansion Moves Forward

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota's Bakken formation held steady at 22 on Saturday, April 18, 2026, according to live data from Bakken Wire. There were no new rigs added, removed, or moved from the previous day.

The current count represents a slight decline from recent activity levels. One week ago, on April 11, the state reported 24 active rigs. Seventeen days ago, on April 1, the count was 23. This places the current rig activity slightly below the levels seen at the start of the month.

This steady but lower rig activity unfolds alongside significant midstream developments that could impact future production and transportation. According to a report from Bing News, U.S. President Donald Trump approved a presidential permit on April 15 for the Bakken Pipeline Company LP to construct and operate a new pipeline project at the Canada-U.S. border in Burke County, North Dakota. Bakken Pipeline Company is a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc.

The permit is part of a broader strategy by Enbridge to expand its cross-border capacity. The company has committed US$1.4 billion to its Mainline Optimization project, which aims to add 150,000 barrels per day of capacity on its cross-Canada system feeding the U.S. Midwest, and another 100,000 barrels per day on its Flanagan South system to the Gulf Coast, according to the source.

Further expansions are being planned. Enbridge has outlined a potential second phase for the Mainline Optimization that could add another 250,000 barrels per day by 2028 by utilizing the existing Dakota Access Pipeline route from North Dakota to Illinois. The source also reported that the Alberta government formed a working group with Enbridge in January to explore further pipeline capacity increases to the U.S. market.

Taken together, these approved permits and planned expansions position Enbridge to move an additional 500,000 barrels per day over the next few years, which could reshape North American oil supply dynamics. For Bakken operators, enhanced pipeline capacity to key refining markets is a critical long-term factor for development economics, potentially supporting future drilling activity even as near-term rig counts fluctuate.

The stable rig count suggests operators are maintaining a disciplined pace of development, focusing on core areas and efficiency, while monitoring broader infrastructure and market conditions.