Bakken Rig Count Holds at 37 as Hess Deploys New Unit in McKenzie County

The number of rigs actively drilling for oil and gas in North Dakota held at 37 on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous week, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count saw a net increase of one rig from Tuesday's total.

The sole addition was a rig operated by Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC. The company deployed the Ensign 532 rig to a location in McKenzie County (152-95-2). No rigs were reported as removed or moved on Wednesday.

The current activity level represents a significant increase from one month ago. On August 3, 2026, the state's active rig count stood at 28, meaning 9 new drilling rigs have been activated over the past month. The rig count one week ago, on August 26, was also 37.

The sustained higher level of drilling activity aligns with a reported summer surge in the Bakken. According to a Bing News report from the Department of Mineral Resources' August Director's Cut briefing, the state has experienced a "notable surge in summer drilling activity." The same briefing highlighted strong June production gains.

State energy officials reported that North Dakota's crude oil production averaged 1.153 million barrels per day in June, a 2.45% increase from May, according to the Bing News source. The state also set a new all-time record for natural gas production in June at 3.58 billion cubic feet per day.

McKenzie County, where Hess deployed its new rig Wednesday, continues to be the core of the state's energy activity. The Bing News report stated that McKenzie County accounted for 33 percent of the state's total crude production and 45 percent of its natural gas output in June. The county hosted 5,859 of the state's 19,961 active producing wells.

The increased drilling comes as operators maintain high efficiency. The Bing News source cited North Dakota Pipeline Authority Director Justin Kringstad praising field operators for achieving a 95.5 percent statewide gas capture rate in June, reducing flaring even as gas production hit record volumes.

The current rig count of 37 indicates operators are sustaining the elevated pace of activity seen throughout August as they work to develop new wells and maintain production from the Bakken formation.