Bakken Rig Count Holds Steady at 27 Amid Daily Turnover

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota's Bakken formation held at 27 on Tuesday, May 26, unchanged from the prior day's total despite daily additions and subtractions, according to live rig data.

One new rig commenced operations, one was released, and one was moved to a new location. The net stable count follows a significant recent uptick in activity. The current level of 27 rigs is up by six from one week ago, when 21 rigs were active on May 19, and is up by four from the 23 rigs working one month ago on April 26.

The new rig addition was by Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C., which spud the NABORS B6 rig at a location in Williams County (154-102-3). The rig removed from service was Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC's NABORS X-10, which had been working at a Williams County site (153-98-22).

In the day's other activity, Oasis Petroleum North America LLC moved its PATTERSON 286 rig to a new Williams County location (156-101-8). All reported activity was concentrated in Williams County, a core area of the Bakken play.

The steady rig count at 27 reflects a plateau at a higher level than seen in recent weeks. The six-rig gain over the past week suggests operators are cautiously deploying capital back into drilling programs following a period of reduced activity. The month-over-month increase of four rigs further indicates a gradual, though not dramatic, recovery in drilling tempo.

Rig count is a key leading indicator for future oil production in the Bakken. The current level, while substantially higher than the single-digit counts seen during the worst of industry downturns, remains below the pre-downturn peaks that regularly exceeded 50 active rigs. The day's movements show continued churn as operators high-grade their portfolios, completing wells in their most promising acreage while releasing rigs from less productive areas.

The concentration of activity in Williams County underscores its status as a premier development target within the basin, known for its high-quality rock and established infrastructure. Operators like Devon Energy, Hess, and Oasis continue to focus drilling efforts in this core region to maximize returns.