Bakken Rig Count Holds at 23, Mirroring Month-Long Stability

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota held steady at 23 on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, according to live data from Bakken Wire. There were no new rigs added, removed, or relocated since the previous day.

The current count represents a period of notable stability for the Williston Basin. The state's rig count has been unchanged for one week, matching the total of 23 rigs recorded 27 days ago on April 1. Activity is up by one rig compared to the count of 22 seen one week ago on April 21.

This local steadiness comes as the broader North American drilling market broke a streak of weekly declines. According to Baker Hughes' latest North America rotary rig count published April 24, the continent added one rig week-on-week, bringing the total to 674. This comprises 544 rigs in the U.S. and 130 in Canada, Rigzone reported.

The U.S. total rig count increased by one week-on-week to 544. The national count is comprised of 407 oil rigs, 129 gas rigs, and eight miscellaneous rigs. Week-on-week, the U.S. gas rig count rose by four while the oil rig count dropped by three, according to the Baker Hughes data cited by Rigzone. The vast majority of U.S. activity, 531 rigs, is on land.

At the state level, the Baker Hughes report highlighted that Texas added two rigs and Oklahoma added one rig week-on-week, while New Mexico dropped two. Major basin variances showed the Granite Wash and Haynesville basins each added one rig, while the Cana Woodford basin dropped one.

Despite the slight weekly gain, the overall North American drilling landscape remains contracted compared to last year. The total North America rig count is down 41 rigs year-on-year. The U.S. has cut 43 rigs over that period, having dropped 68 oil rigs while adding 22 gas rigs and three miscellaneous rigs, Rigzone reported.

Canada's rig count of 130 was unchanged week-on-week, with a one-rig increase in oil rigs offset by a one-rig drop in gas rigs. Canada has added two rigs year-on-year.

The recent uptick follows several consecutive weeks of declines in the North American count. Baker Hughes' previous count, published April 17, showed North America dropped seven rigs week-on-week. Counts from April 10 and April 2 showed weekly drops of 10 and six rigs, respectively, according to the Rigzone report.

For Bakken operators, the sustained rig level near two dozen suggests a focused, maintenance-level of drilling activity aimed at managing production profiles amid current commodity price and service cost environments.