Bakken Rig Count Holds at 26, Down 2 from Last Week

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held at 26 on Monday, June 15, 2026, Bakken Wire's daily tally shows. There was no day-over-day change in the number of operational rigs across the Bakken formation and Williston Basin.

According to the live data, there were no new rigs added, no rigs removed from operation, and no rigs that moved location since Sunday's report. The stability follows a slight decline in activity over the past week.

The current count of 26 rigs represents a decrease of two from the level reported one week ago on June 8, 2026, when 28 rigs were active. However, the longer-term trend shows an increase in drilling activity compared to last month. The rig count is up by four from the 22 rigs reported active on May 16, 2026.

The rig count is a closely watched leading indicator for future oil production in North Dakota, the United States' second-largest oil-producing state after Texas. Changes in the number of active drilling rigs can signal shifts in operator confidence, capital expenditure plans, and anticipated output from the Bakken formation months in advance.

A stable or rising rig count typically suggests operators are maintaining or increasing their development pace in response to supportive commodity prices or strategic acreage development. The month-over-month increase of four rigs aligns with a period where operators may be executing planned drilling programs for the second quarter.

Conversely, the week-over-week dip of two rigs could reflect routine operational adjustments, such as the completion of drilling on a pad or minor schedule changes by individual operators. Such minor fluctuations are common and do not necessarily indicate a broader shift in strategy across the basin.

For royalty owners, service companies, and local economies in western North Dakota, the rig count directly correlates with oilfield activity and associated jobs. The current level of 26 rigs, while below the highs seen in previous boom cycles, represents a sustained base of drilling operations that supports the state's oil production and related industries.

Market analysts and state regulators will monitor upcoming weekly data to see if the count stabilizes at this level or resumes the upward trend observed over the past month. Future movements will be influenced by factors including crude oil prices, well economics, and individual company budgets.