Bakken Rig Count Holds at 25 for Third Consecutive Day

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota's oil fields remained unchanged Monday at 25, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count showed no new rigs added, none removed, and none that moved location since Sunday.

This marks the third straight day the state's rig count has held at 25. The current level represents a slight decline from recent historical activity. One week ago, on July 13, 2026, the active rig count was 26. Similarly, one month ago, on June 20, 2026, the count also stood at 26, indicating the fleet has contracted by one unit over the past month.

The stability in the rig count comes amid a period of moderated activity in the Bakken formation, North Dakota's primary oil-producing region. Rig counts are a leading indicator of future oil production, as they represent the number of new wells being drilled. A flat or slightly declining count suggests operators are maintaining a cautious capital discipline, focusing on efficiency and returns from existing wells rather than aggressively expanding drilling programs.

The current count of 25 rigs is significantly lower than the boom-era peaks seen in the early 2010s, which frequently exceeded 200. Today's levels reflect an industry that has matured, with companies prioritizing free cash flow generation and shareholder returns over volume growth. Technological advancements have also allowed operators to maintain production levels with fewer rigs by drilling longer lateral wells and improving completion techniques.

The lack of day-to-day movement in the rig tally suggests no major new drilling campaigns were initiated or concluded over the weekend. Major operators in the Bakken, such as Continental Resources, Hess Corporation, and Marathon Oil, typically guide their annual rig counts and capital budgets, and current activity appears consistent with those plans.

For royalty owners and service companies in the Williston Basin, a steady rig count provides predictable, if not expansive, activity. It supports a stable service sector environment without the wild swings of previous cycles. Market watchers will continue to monitor the count for any shifts that could signal a change in operator sentiment, particularly in response to fluctuations in crude oil prices.