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BAKKEN WIRE
Bakken Rig Count Holds at 27 as Operator Activity Shifts - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

Bakken Rig Count Holds at 27 as Operator Activity Shifts

One new rig and one removal in McKenzie County keep North Dakota's drilling fleet stable, continuing a multi-week uptrend.

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

North Dakota's active drilling rig count remained at 27 on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, following a day of offsetting activity in the core of the Bakken play. According to live rig data, one new rig began operations while another was released.

Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP added the rig NOBLE 6 in McKenzie County at location 151-96-7. Concurrently, Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC released the rig ENSIGN 532 from location 149-100-33, also in McKenzie County. No rigs were reported to have moved locations.

The stable daily count continues a recent upward trend for drilling activity in the state. The current count of 27 rigs represents an increase of two rigs from one week prior, on May 20, 2026, when 25 rigs were active. Compared to one month ago, on April 27, 2026, the state's active fleet has grown by four rigs from a base of 23.

McKenzie County, home to both of today's reported rig changes, consistently hosts the majority of North Dakota's drilling activity. The movement of a rig from a Hess location to a Burlington Resources location underscores the ongoing capital rotation and development pacing among operators in the formation. While individual company plans are not detailed in the data, such shifts are typical as operators complete planned wells and mobilize equipment to new drilling pads.

The gradual, multi-week increase in the rig count suggests operators are maintaining or modestly expanding drilling programs in response to stable commodity prices and efficient well economics in the Bakken's core areas. The rig count is a leading indicator of future oil production, and a sustained level in the upper 20s points to a steady pace of new well additions coming online in the months ahead.

For royalty owners and service companies in the Williston Basin, the current activity level indicates a stable operating environment. The focus for operators remains on drilling high-quality locations, primarily in the Bakken and Three Forks formations within counties like McKenzie, Williams, and Mountrail.

Source

Bakken Wire Live Rig Data

rig countdrilling activitymckenzie countybakkennorth dakotaburlington resourceshess

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