Bakken Rig Count Holds at 25, Industry Eyes Expansion Amid Price Rally

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held at 25 for Sunday, May 24, 2026, with no additions, removals, or location changes from the previous day, according to live Bakken Wire data. The current fleet represents a slight increase from 22 rigs one week ago and 23 rigs one month ago.

The steady activity comes amid a significant rally in oil prices and high-profile announcements from major operators at the recent Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in Bismarck. According to the North Dakota Monitor, Continental Resources founder Harold Hamm announced on May 21 that the company plans to resume drilling in the state before the end of the year. The company, North Dakota's No. 2 oil producer, had paused new drilling in January for the first time in three decades due to low oil prices.

Hamm cited higher oil prices amid the U.S. war with Iran as a key factor in the decision to restart "meaningful" drilling activity. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices have surged from around $60 per barrel in January to approximately $100, according to reports from the conference. Department of Mineral Resources Director Nathan Anderson stated that a breakeven price for Bakken operators ranges from $50 to $65 per barrel.

The state's production and well count are already reflecting the price environment. According to a May 23 Yahoo News report on the Department of Mineral Resources' monthly briefing, North Dakota produced 1.142 million barrels per day in March, with the number of producing wells reaching a record high of 19,639. The state's March oil price was $84.33 per barrel, up sharply from $57.74 in February.

The conference itself highlighted a broader industry focus on long-term innovation. A May 23 opinion column from the Wahpetondailynews.com reported that over $100 million in combined investment from the state, federal government, and private industry is fueling research into enhanced oil recovery technologies, dubbed "Bakken 2.0." The goal is to improve recovery rates beyond the current estimated 15% of oil in place.

State officials view the current price stability and operator signals as positive. Director Anderson told the North Dakota Monitor that Hamm's announcement signals "certainty around a little higher price for a little bit longer," and noted he had heard of another company planning to add a rig.

With the rig count stable at 25 and major producers like Continental Resources preparing to deploy new crews, the near-term trajectory for Bakken drilling activity appears poised for growth, supported by oil prices well above the region's breakeven threshold.