Bakken Rig Count Holds at 36, Up Nine Rigs From One Month Ago

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota held at 36 on Saturday, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count showed no change from the previous day, with no new rigs added, removed, or relocated.

The current activity level represents a significant increase from recent historical benchmarks. The rig count is up by two from the 34 rigs working one week ago, on August 22, 2026. More notably, activity has surged by nine rigs, or 33 percent, since July 30, 2026, when just 27 rigs were active in the state.

The steady climb over the past month suggests operators in the Bakken formation and wider Williston Basin are maintaining a measured pace of capital investment into new well drilling. Rig count is a key leading indicator of future oil production, and the current level points to stabilized development plans following periods of volatility.

While North Dakota's activity holds firm, major drilling programs are launching in other U.S. basins. According to Rigzone, Texas-based EON has commenced a 92-well horizontal drilling program in New Mexico. In a statement published August 28, EON CEO Dante Caravaggio said, "The first three of 92 horizontal wells now being drilled makes all the difference in the world to us."

The concurrent activity in the Permian Basin underscores a broader, though selective, focus by operators on high-graded drilling inventory. The sustained rig increase in North Dakota over the past month indicates a similar confidence among Bakken operators in the economic viability of new wells at current commodity prices.

The stability at 36 rigs provides a clear signal to service companies, royalty owners, and local economies in western North Dakota that drilling work is consistent. The count remains far below the historic peaks seen in the previous decade but reflects a focused and efficient operational environment for the remaining active drillers.