Bakken Rig Count Holds at 33, Down 6 From Week Ago

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota remained unchanged at 33 on Wednesday, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count showed no day-over-day movement, with no new rigs added, none removed, and none relocated.

The current activity level represents a significant decline from recent weeks. The rig count is down six units from the 39 rigs active one week ago on November 4, 2026, and is down three rigs from the 36 operating one month ago on October 12, 2026. The stability at 33 rigs suggests operators may be pausing further reductions for now, but the overall trend points to a cooling in drilling activity as the year progresses.

Amid this tempered drilling pace, midstream companies are making strategic moves to capture and process existing and future production. In a related development, Bayou Midstream II has completed its acquisition of Argent Gas Solutions, adding significant natural gas infrastructure in the heart of the Bakken.

According to a report from Bing News, Bayou Midstream II, backed by private equity firm EIV Capital, acquired the assets from Silver Hill Energy Partners. The transaction adds approximately 85 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines and associated compression equipment across Williams, Burke, and Mountrail counties in the northeastern Bakken.

The acquired system also includes more than 60 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas processing capacity and serves approximately 140,000 dedicated acres. Bayou intends to use this established platform to support producers in the region and pursue expansion opportunities, the source reported.

This infrastructure investment occurs even as the rig count softens. Efficient gas gathering and processing are critical for Bakken operators, who often produce significant volumes of associated natural gas alongside crude oil. The acquisition marks Bayou Midstream's return to the North Dakota market, where it previously operated in McKenzie County.

The steady rig count at a lower level indicates a focus by operators on capital discipline and efficiency. Drilling fewer wells but connecting them to robust midstream systems, like the expanded Bayou network, can help maintain production volumes and manage costs. The recent drop from 39 to 33 rigs over one week will be a key metric for observers gauging the near-term trajectory of Bakken development.