North Dakota rig count holds at 25, marking third straight week below 30

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 25 on Saturday, July 4, 2026, according to live rig data. No rigs were added, removed, or moved locations from the previous day's count.

The current level represents a slight decline from recent weeks. The rig count is down one from the 26 active rigs reported one week ago, on June 27, 2026. Compared to one month ago, activity has decreased by two rigs from the 27 active on June 4, 2026.

While drilling activity remains subdued, a major proposed infrastructure project received a significant upgrade, according to a related news report. The proposed Bakken East natural gas pipeline, designed by WBI Energy Transmission Inc., is now planned with larger pipe diameters than originally envisioned, Bing News reported. The pipeline would run approximately 400 miles from near Watford City to Mapleton.

According to the report, the proposed pipe size has been increased from 36 inches to 42 inches for the first 134 miles. A middle 162-mile stretch has been upgraded from 30 inches to 36 inches. The final 57 miles are likely to remain at 30 inches.

Justin Kringstad, director of the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, told the Grand Forks Herald that the upgrade means more capacity for customers. "I would say it's good news across the board for the eastern half of North Dakota, all the way to the Red River Valley," Kringstad said. "Having larger pipe diameters into the Red River Valley, for long-term growth opportunities, is meaningful."

Kringstad attributed the change to higher-than-anticipated interest along the project route, which can lead to larger infrastructure in early draft proposals. "So yes, larger pipe diameters could lead to more expansion options in the future," he said.

The development is seen as a positive signal for long-term demand and market expansion for Bakken natural gas. 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 while Grand Forks has access to natural gas through the existing Viking line, a second line like the Bakken East would expand possibilities. He stated that expanding natural gas access in Grand Forks "ranks very high — top one or two, quite frankly" on his organization's wish list, as reported by Bing News.

The pipeline project, still in planning stages, is designed to bring natural gas from the western oilfields to customers in the southern Red River Valley, with potential for future spurs northward.