Bakken Rig Count Holds at 22, Unchanged From Month Ago

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 22 on Sunday, May 17, 2026, with no changes reported from the previous day, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The figure represents no change from one month prior, when 22 rigs were also active on April 17.

The current activity level is down by one rig from one week ago, when 23 rigs were reported active on May 10.

The stability in the Williston Basin aligns with a modestly positive trend in the broader U.S. drilling market this week. According to Baker Hughes's rotary rig count for the week ended May 15, 2026, the total U.S. rig count increased by 3 units to reach 551 rigs running, as reported by Bing News. The national gains were driven by oil-directed activity, with rigs drilling for oil rising by 5 to 415.

On a year-over-year basis, however, the U.S. count is down 25 units from the 576 rigs working in mid-May 2025.

The latest national data shows horizontal drilling continues to dominate U.S. activity with 484 rigs running, an increase of 3 from the prior week. State-level changes were mixed, with Texas seeing the largest weekly increase of 5 rigs, bringing its total to 245. New Mexico, the nation's second-largest drilling region, added 1 rig to reach 96. In contrast, Louisiana's count fell by 3 rigs to 39.

Canada's overall rig count remained unchanged at 124 units for the week, bringing the North American total to 675. The Canadian count is down 22 units from the 697 rigs active at this time last year.

For Bakken operators, the sustained rig level in the low 20s indicates a continued focus on capital discipline and efficiency, with activity closely tracking the price environment for crude oil. The flat month-over-month comparison suggests a stable operating floor has been established in the region following the seasonal rebound from winter weather constraints.

The Baker Hughes data, which serves as a key industry benchmark, is typically released weekly and reflects permits, new spuds, and rig moves. The live Bakken Wire count provides a daily snapshot of active rigs physically running in North Dakota.