Bakken Rig Count Holds at 29; Two Rigs Relocate

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 29 on Thursday, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The tally showed no net change from the previous day, with no new rigs added and none removed.

Two rigs, however, did change locations within the play. WGO Resources, LLC moved its STONEHAM 16 rig to a new site in Golden Valley County (139-104-9). Separately, EOG Resources, Inc. relocated its H & P 259 rig to a location in Mountrail County (155-90-34).

The current activity level represents a modest increase from recent benchmarks. The rig count is up by three compared to one week ago, when 26 rigs were active on June 18, 2026. It is also two rigs higher than the count of 27 recorded one month ago on May 26, 2026.

The stable domestic land drilling activity in the Bakken contrasts with ongoing disruptions and strategic shifts in the global offshore sector. Internationally, a labor dispute is affecting operations in Norway, where well workers continue a strike. According to Rigzone, the affected service companies—including Baker Hughes, Halliburton, and SLB—have imposed a legal work halt to force workers to accept terms from government mediation.

Meanwhile, major offshore contractor Saipem is divesting its Saudi shallow water rigs, Rigzone reported. The company stated the move is a step in implementing its strategy to focus its portfolio on deepwater and harsh-environment offshore drilling.

For Bakken operators, the consistent rig count near 30 suggests a maintained, deliberate pace of development. The relocation of rigs by operators like WGO and EOG indicates ongoing optimization of drilling programs within core counties. Mountrail County has long been a top-producing area in the Bakken, while activity in Golden Valley County is less common.

The North Dakota drilling fleet has operated within a narrow band around 30 rigs for much of the year, a level that supports production maintenance but not significant growth. State production data for April is expected to be released by the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources in the coming weeks, providing further insight into how current drilling activity is translating into output.