North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 25 Amid Long-Term Decline

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 25 on Sunday, July 5, according to live data from Bakken Wire. There were no new rigs added, no rigs removed, and no rigs that moved location since the previous day.

The current count represents a slight decline from recent weeks. One week ago, on June 28, 2026, the state reported 26 active rigs. The activity level has fallen further from one month prior, when 28 rigs were operating on June 5.

The steady rig activity occurs as significant midstream infrastructure planning continues for the region. According to a report from Bing News, the proposed Bakken East natural gas pipeline is being redesigned with larger pipe diameters, signaling stronger-than-anticipated demand. The pipeline, proposed by WBI Energy Transmission Inc., would run approximately 400 miles from near Watford City to Mapleton.

Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, told the Grand Forks Herald that the upgrade in proposed pipe size—from 36 inches to 42 inches for the first 134 miles—is positive news for long-term growth opportunities in eastern North Dakota. "Having larger pipe diameters into the Red River Valley, for long-term growth opportunities, is meaningful," Kringstad said.

The increased capacity is driven by higher interest from potential customers than originally estimated, according to the report. Keith Lund, President and CEO of the Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corp., stated that greater pipeline capacity creates greater opportunity for industrial development, ranking the expansion of natural gas access very high on his organization's list.

While the Bakken East pipeline project remains in planning stages, its progress highlights ongoing efforts to build out takeaway capacity for Bakken energy products. Such infrastructure is critical for supporting future drilling activity and well economics by providing reliable market access for natural gas, a key byproduct of oil extraction in the region.

The current rig count of 25 provides a snapshot of drilling investment as operators manage capital programs and well costs. The count is a leading indicator of future oil and gas production from the Bakken formation and the broader Williston Basin.