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BAKKEN WIRE
Bakken Rig Count Holds at 25 After Daily Moves - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

Bakken Rig Count Holds at 25 After Daily Moves

The North Dakota rig count was unchanged overall Wednesday as two new rigs offset one departure, continuing a gradual decline from earlier in the summer.

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota's oil fields was 25 on Wednesday, July 8, unchanged from the prior day, according to live rig data from Bakken Wire. The flat daily total resulted from two rigs starting operations and one rig being released.

Two operators added rigs to the state's count. Formentera Operations, LLC, spud the PRONGHORN 7 well in Divide County (162-95-23). In Williams County, XTO Energy Inc. began drilling the H & P 429 well (154-96-10). The single rig removed from the tally was the T&S DRILLING 2 rig, which was working for Petro-Hunt, L.L.C. on a location in Billings County (144-98-17) prior to its release. No rigs were reported to have moved between locations on Wednesday.

The current activity level represents a slight decline in the pace of drilling compared to recent weeks. One week ago, on July 1, 2026, the active rig count stood at 26, meaning the count is down by one rig over the past seven days. The broader trend shows a more noticeable pullback from a month ago. On June 8, 2026, 28 rigs were actively drilling, putting the current count down by three rigs over the past month.

The rig count is a key leading indicator for future oil production in the Bakken formation and broader Williston Basin. A count in the mid-20s reflects a continued, but measured, level of investment by operators in new well development. The day's movements highlight the ongoing churn within the active fleet, as companies adjust their drilling programs based on well economics, lease obligations, and capital allocation plans.

The locations of the new rigs in Divide and Williams counties are within core Bakken producing areas. Operators typically concentrate drilling activity in these counties due to their proven high-productivity geology. The release of a rig in Billings County, another active region, is a routine part of field operations as individual drilling projects are completed.

Source

Bakken Wire Live Rig Data

rig countdrillingnorth dakotabakkenwilliston basinformentera operationsxto energypetro-hunt

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