North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 22, Down Two from Last Week

North Dakota's active drilling rig count remained steady at 22 on Friday, April 17, 2026, according to Bakken Wire live data. No rigs were added, removed, or moved locations since the prior day.

The current count is down by two rigs from one week ago, when 24 rigs were active on April 10. Compared to 16 days ago on April 1, the count is down by one rig from the 23 reported at the start of the month.

The steady rig activity comes as a significant infrastructure project for the region received a key federal authorization. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump approved a presidential permit for the Bakken Pipeline Company LP to construct, connect, operate, and maintain new pipeline facilities at the U.S.-Canada border in Burke County, North Dakota, according to a White House memo reported by Bing News. Bakken Pipeline Company is a subsidiary of midstream giant Enbridge.

The permit, granted on April 15, is a concrete step to enhance crude oil and petroleum product transportation between the two nations, sources reported. The project aligns with Enbridge's broader expansion strategy, which includes a US$1.4 billion commitment last year to its Mainline Optimization project. That project aims to add 150,000 barrels per day of capacity on its cross-Canada system, which feeds into the U.S. Midwest.

Enbridge has also outlined a potential second phase for the Mainline Optimization that could add another 250,000 barrels per day by 2028 using the existing Dakota Access Pipeline route from North Dakota to southern Illinois, Bing News reported. The company's network is a critical artery for moving crude, including from the Bakken and Canadian oilsands, to key refining markets.

The federal approval for new border-crossing infrastructure represents a long-term positive for Bakken operators and royalty owners by potentially improving market access and reducing transportation costs for North Dakota crude. The news follows the formation of a working group in January between the Alberta government and Enbridge to explore further pipeline capacity increases to the U.S. market.

While the immediate rig count shows a slight weekly decline, the approval of major pipeline projects can influence future drilling economics and operator planning in the Williston Basin. Enbridge's planned expansions position the company to move an additional 500,000 barrels per day over the next few years, which could reshape North American supply dynamics by the end of the decade, according to the source reports.