Bakken Rig Count Holds at 29, North American Activity Dips

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota held steady at 29 on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, according to live data from Bakken Wire. There were no new rigs added, no rigs removed, and no rigs that moved location since the previous day.

The current count represents a slight pullback from activity levels seen just one week ago. On August 5, 2026, the state reported 30 active rigs, meaning the Bakken is down one rig over the past seven days. However, the longer-term trend shows modest growth compared to a month prior. On July 13, 2026, the rig count stood at 26, indicating an increase of three rigs over the last four weeks.

The stability in the Bakken contrasts with a broader decline in North American drilling activity reported this week. According to Rigzone, citing data from service provider Baker Hughes, North America as a whole dropped three rigs week on week, breaking a streak of additions. The report was published on August 11, 2026.

The Bakken formation is North Dakota's primary oil-producing region, and rig count is a key leading indicator of future production activity and capital expenditure by operators. A count in the high 20s has been typical for the state in recent years, reflecting a focus on capital discipline and efficiency by producers rather than the aggressive growth seen in the previous decade.

The flat daily count and slight weekly dip come as operators continue to manage drilling programs in response to commodity price signals and operational efficiency targets. The monthly gain suggests some operators have been incrementally adding rigs through the summer.

With no day-to-day changes reported, the focus for service companies and communities in the Williston Basin remains on the existing active fleet. The next weekly Baker Hughes international rig count, which includes the North Dakota data, will provide further context on whether the North American decline is a localized event or part of a wider trend.