Bakken Rig Count Holds at 26; Oasis Rig Moves in Mountrail

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota's Bakken formation held steady at 26 on Friday, according to the latest data from Bakken Wire. The count saw no net change from the previous day, with no new rigs added and none removed.

One rig did change location. Oasis Petroleum North America LLC's rig, NABORS B21, was moved to a new site in Mountrail County, according to the data. The rig is now operating at location 157-93-13. This movement indicates continued operational activity within the basin despite the static overall count.

The current rig level represents no change from one week ago, when the count also stood at 26 active rigs on June 19. However, activity has decreased slightly from levels seen a month ago. On May 27, the state reported 27 active rigs, meaning the current count is down by one rig over the past four weeks.

The stability in the Bakken comes as international exploration news highlights significant new discoveries elsewhere. According to a report from Rigzone, Wellesley has confirmed a new gas and condensate discovery in the Norwegian North Sea. Preliminary calculations indicate recoverable resources of 21 to 107 million barrels of oil equivalent for that find.

For Bakken operators and royalty owners, the steady rig count suggests a period of consolidation following the slight drop observed over the last month. The movement of an Oasis rig within Mountrail County, a core area of the Williston Basin, points to ongoing development drilling and well completion work by major operators.

The Bakken formation remains North Dakota's primary oil-producing region. Rig counts are a key leading indicator for future production levels in the state. The current activity level, while down slightly from late May, continues to support the basin's substantial output.