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BAKKEN WIRE
Bakken Rig Count Holds at 37, Up Eight from September - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

Bakken Rig Count Holds at 37, Up Eight from September

Drilling activity in North Dakota remains stable, with the active rig count unchanged from Friday and significantly higher than last month's level.

Bakken Wire Staff·☀️Morning Wire·

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota's oil fields held steady at 37 on Monday, October 26, 2026, according to Bakken Wire live data. There were no new rigs added, no rigs removed, and no rigs that moved location since the previous report.

The current count represents a slight increase of one rig from the level of one week ago, when 36 rigs were active. More notably, the rig count is up by eight from the 29 rigs reported one month ago on September 26.

This sustained higher level of activity underscores the ongoing economic importance of the Bakken formation to the region. The financial impact of drilling extends beyond oil companies to local landowners. According to a recent report from Bing News, the Bakken boom has brought significant financial shifts for farmers in the region, with mineral rights proving pivotal. The source highlighted the case of John Bartelson, a wheat farmer in North Dakota, who began receiving royalty payments from two oil wells on his land.

The stability in the rig count suggests operators are maintaining their drilling programs amid current market conditions. The eight-rig increase over the past month indicates a period of expanded activity, though the pace of growth has leveled off in the immediate term.

For service companies and local economies in the Williston Basin, a rig count in the upper 30s represents a steady demand for labor, equipment, and supplies. The count is a key leading indicator for future oil production in the state, which remains a top producer nationally.

Analysts monitor weekly rig movements for signs of changing operator sentiment in response to oil prices and well economics. The lack of day-over-day movement today points to a consolidation of recent gains.

Source

Bakken Wire live rig data; historical context from Bakken Wire archives; related context from Bing News published October 23, 2026.

rig countdrillingbakkennorth dakotaactivityoil production

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