Bakken Rig Count Holds Steady at 35 Amid Midstream Acquisition
North Dakota's drilling activity remains unchanged as Bayou Midstream II expands natural gas infrastructure in the northeastern Bakken.
The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota's Bakken formation remained unchanged at 35 on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, according to Bakken Wire live data. There were no new rigs added, none removed, and no rigs moved location from the previous day.
The current count represents a decline of three rigs from one week ago, when 38 rigs were active on November 3. However, activity is up by two rigs compared to one month ago, when the count stood at 33 on October 11.
The stable local count contrasts with a slight decline reported across North America. According to a summary from Rigzone, Baker Hughes' latest North America rotary rig count showed a week-on-week drop of two rigs.
Amid the steady drilling pace, midstream investment in the region continues. Bayou Midstream II, a Houston-based energy infrastructure company, announced it has completed the acquisition of Argent Gas Solutions from Silver Hill Energy Partners, according to a report from Pulse2. The acquired assets include approximately 85 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines and associated compression equipment across Williams, Burke, and Mountrail counties in the northeastern Bakken.
The system also has more than 60 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas processing capacity and serves approximately 140,000 dedicated acres. Bayou Midstream II, backed by private equity firm EIV Capital, intends to use the existing system as a platform for continued growth while supporting producers in the region, Pulse2 reported. The acquisition marks Bayou's return to the North Dakota market, where it previously operated in McKenzie County.
The transaction underscores ongoing infrastructure development aimed at supporting and potentially enabling future production growth. Bayou's management expects opportunities to expand gathering and processing services as production activity develops across the region.
On the national policy front, a bipartisan plan to speed the federal approval process for major energy and infrastructure projects received a notable endorsement. Rigzone reported that President Donald Trump voiced his support for the energy permitting bill on the eve of a key Senate vote. Such regulatory changes could impact the pace of future energy project development, including in regions like the Bakken.
The current rig count of 35 provides a snapshot of ongoing development activity as operators balance capital discipline with the need to maintain production from the prolific formation. The concurrent expansion of midstream gas infrastructure highlights continued long-term investment in the basin's full energy value chain.
Source
Bakken Wire Live Rig Data, Pulse2, Rigzone
