North Dakota

Oil & gas and construction news for subcontractors working in North Dakota — 59 stories and counting.

Congress Extends BLM Drilling-Permit Fund, Trump Signature Next

Congress passed the License to Drill Act, reauthorizing the industry-funded fund that supports BLM drilling-permit reviews for another decade. The bill awaits President Trump's signature and creates no bid stage for subcontractors.

3d ago

Industry

MDU Takes FID on $2.7B to $3.2B Bakken East Gas Pipeline in North Dakota

MDU Resources has reached a positive final investment decision on WBI Energy's Bakken East Pipeline, a 1.4 Bcf/d line across North Dakota with construction planned for 2028 to 2030 and four new compressor stations.

Oct 1, 2026

Industry

Ranger Energy Buys STEP's US Coiled Tubing Assets for $27.5M

Ranger Energy Services is acquiring STEP Energy Services' U.S. coiled tubing business for $27.5 million, becoming the second-largest U.S. coiled tubing operator with expanded Permian and Bakken reach, Permian Basin Oil & Gas Magazine reports.

Sep 12, 2026

Industry

Enbridge's $2.55B Tallgrass Deal Redraws Rockies-to-Cushing Pipeline Map

Enbridge is buying Tallgrass Energy's crude pipeline business for $2.55 billion, gaining control of the Pony Express system and a slate of expansion and integrity work that could ripple down to midstream subcontractors.

Sep 10, 2026

Industry

Mortenson to Build $450M HVDC Line Upgrade Across North Dakota, Minnesota

Minnesota Power broke ground on a $450 million HVDC transmission modernization with Mortenson as general contractor, replacing 50-year-old infrastructure across a 465-mile line tied to a proposed Google data center.

Sep 3, 2026

Editorial image: HVDC tower steel erection close-up - Mortenson to Build $450M HVDC Line Upgrade Across North Dakota, Minnesota

Industry

Ranger Energy Buys STEP's US Coiled Tubing Fleet for $27.5M

Ranger Energy Services will acquire STEP Energy Services' U.S. coiled tubing assets, including 13 spreads across the Permian and Bakken, making Ranger the second-largest coiled tubing provider in the Lower 48.

Aug 31, 2026

Industry

DOE Cancels Three Federal Grid Corridor Designations

The Department of Energy has withdrawn plans to designate three National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors, cutting a batch of long-haul transmission routes from the federal permitting pipeline.

Aug 18, 2026

Industry

US Rig Count Climbs to 593 as Oklahoma Adds Rig

Baker Hughes data shows the U.S. rig count rose to 593 last week while Oklahoma gained one rig to reach 51, pointing to steady near-term work for drilling and completions crews.

Aug 16, 2026

Editorial image: Aerial multi-rig basin at golden-hour - US Rig Count Climbs to 593 as Oklahoma Adds Rig

Industry

Phoenix Energy Tops 50,000 Bopd in Williston Basin

Phoenix Energy's Williston Basin production surpassed 50,000 bopd in July 2026, capping rapid growth from roughly 100 bopd in early 2024 and signaling sustained Bakken drilling activity.

Jul 21, 2026

Editorial image: Pumpjack close-up, production growth - Phoenix Energy Tops 50,000 Bopd in Williston Basin

Industry

North Dakota's Largest Lease Sale in 15 Years Reignites Royalty Rate Fight

A record 27,290-acre federal lease sale in North Dakota's Bakken has revived debate over the 12.5% royalty rate, with watchdogs estimating $1.4 billion in foregone federal revenue since July 2025.

Jul 18, 2026

Editorial image: Federal lease documents on prairie table at dawn - North Dakota's Largest Lease Sale in 15 Years Reignites Royalty Rate Fight

Industry

Ranger Energy to Build Three More ECHO Rigs for Chevron's Hess Unit

Ranger Energy Services will deliver three additional ECHO hybrid workover rigs to Hess, a Chevron subsidiary, by 2027, growing its electrified fleet to twenty units and adding Bakken-ready capacity.

Jul 14, 2026

Editorial image: Electrified workover rig at winter yard - Ranger Energy to Build Three More ECHO Rigs for Chevron's Hess Unit

Industry

DOT Awards $1.73B in BUILD Grants for Roads, Transit, Ports

The Department of Transportation's 2026 BUILD grant cohort directs $1.3 billion to roads and bridges, $169.9 million to transit and $136.8 million to port projects across 127 awards nationwide.

Jul 9, 2026

Industry

US Crude Output Hits Record 13.934M b/d in April

EIA data show US crude production climbed to a record 13.934 million b/d in April, with Texas, New Mexico, and North Dakota all posting strong gains as producers responded to higher oil prices.

Jul 5, 2026

Editorial image: Dawn Permian pumpjack field ramping - US Crude Output Hits Record 13.934M b/d in April

Industry

Chevron Pursues Data Center Power Deals Across Midwest, Rockies, and Gulf Coast

Following its landmark West Texas deal with Microsoft, Chevron is actively exploring additional natural gas power projects to serve data centers across multiple US regions.

Jun 26, 2026

Industry

Citi Forecasts Oil Dropping to $60–$65 by Q1 2027 as Hormuz Flows Normalize

Citi expects oil prices to trend lower over the next six to 12 months, targeting $60 to $65 per barrel by the first quarter of 2027, citing normalizing flows through the Strait of Hormuz following a U.S.-Iran agreement.

Jun 21, 2026

Editorial image: Oil tanker through Hormuz strait - Citi Forecasts Oil Dropping to $60–$65 by Q1 2027 as Hormuz Flows Normalize

Industry

North Dakota Oil Output Expected to Hold Steady Despite Price Softness, Regulator Says

North Dakota's top oil regulator says production should remain stable near current levels despite falling crude prices, with two operators planning to add rigs.

Jun 19, 2026

Industry

Alberta Junior Producer's Off-Grid Oil Battery Shows What Single-Scope Power Contracts Can Do

A Central Alberta junior producer powered up a remote multi-well oil battery by bundling electrical construction, instrumentation, and on-site generation under one contractor, offering a model for field service companies in off-grid development work.

Jun 18, 2026

Industry

Iran Deal Optimism Sends Oil Prices Tumbling, Creating Contract Uncertainty for Field Operators

Oil prices dropped sharply on reports that a US-Iran nuclear deal could be weeks away, adding fresh pricing uncertainty for field service companies managing multi-month contracts in volatile energy markets.

Jun 14, 2026

Editorial image: Idle contractor yard, price uncertainty - Iran Deal Optimism Sends Oil Prices Tumbling, Creating Contract Uncertainty for Field Operators

Industry

Enverus Models Brent Above $100 Through Mid-2027 as Hormuz Disruption Drains OECD Stocks to 20-Year Lows

Enverus Intelligence Research projects OECD crude inventories will fall to 20-year lows by late 2026, keeping Brent above $100/bbl through Q3 2027 — a sustained price environment with major implications for E&P budgets and field service demand.

Jun 14, 2026

Editorial image: Vast pumpjack field, midday scale - Enverus Models Brent Above $100 Through Mid-2027 as Hormuz Disruption Drains OECD Stocks to 20-Year Lows

Industry

Industrial Construction Holds Steady in Upper Midwest as Commercial, Residential Activity Falls

A Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis survey found 54% of Upper Midwest construction firms reported declining activity this spring, with industrial and data center work the lone bright spots in the region.

Jun 9, 2026

Editorial image: Industrial site dawn, Midwest - Industrial Construction Holds Steady in Upper Midwest as Commercial, Residential Activity Falls

Industry

Trump Directs $850M to Restart and Upgrade Coal Plants Across 15 States

The Trump administration is directing up to $850 million toward upgrading operating coal plants, restarting decommissioned facilities, and building new capacity in Alaska and West Virginia. Field service companies should weigh near-term construction opportunity against long-term demand uncertainty.

Jun 7, 2026

Editorial image: Coal plant revival from above - Trump Directs $850M to Restart and Upgrade Coal Plants Across 15 States

Compliance

Enverus and Four Energy Companies Launch AI Safety Platform for Oilfield Crews

Enverus has partnered with Continental Resources, BPX Energy, Chord Energy, and Ranger Energy Services to launch LifeSaver, an AI-powered field safety platform built for oilfield workers. Field pilots are planned for 2026, starting in the Bakken.

Jun 4, 2026

Editorial image: AI safety tablet on rig - Enverus and Four Energy Companies Launch AI Safety Platform for Oilfield Crews

Workforce

AI Tools Are Becoming the New Apprentice, Capturing Retiring Workers' Knowledge Before It Walks Out the Door

Construction Executive argues the industry faces a "knowledge cliff" as veteran workers retire, and AI-powered tools embedded in equipment and training systems could be the practical solution field service companies need.

Jun 1, 2026

Editorial image: Veteran worker, AI cab interface - AI Tools Are Becoming the New Apprentice, Capturing Retiring Workers' Knowledge Before It Walks Out the Door

Industry

Army Corps Grants Dakota Access Easement, Opening Door to Long-Term Pipeline Operations

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a key easement allowing the Dakota Access Pipeline to continue operating its Missouri River crossing, with new safety conditions attached. The decision locks in long-term maintenance and inspection work for pipeline service companies across the region.

May 27, 2026

Editorial image: River crossing easement approved - Army Corps Grants Dakota Access Easement, Opening Door to Long-Term Pipeline Operations

Industry

US Grid Adds 75 GW of Summer Capacity in a Year, Led by Texas and the West

FERC reports the largest year-over-year capacity increase in over a decade, with nearly 26 GW added in Texas alone, signaling sustained demand for grid construction and interconnection work across the country.

May 23, 2026

Editorial image: Massive grid expansion buildout - US Grid Adds 75 GW of Summer Capacity in a Year, Led by Texas and the West

Plus 34 earlier stories — use search to find them.

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