Bakken Rig Count Rises to 27; Hunt Oil Deploys New Rig in Divide County

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota increased by one to 27 on Monday, May 25, 2026, according to live rig data. One new rig began operations and another moved locations, both in Divide County.

Hunt Oil Company deployed a new rig, the T&S Drilling 1, at location 160-100-6. Separately, Koda Resources Operating, LLC moved its Stoneham 17 rig to a new site at 160-102-13. No rigs were removed from the state.

The current count of 27 rigs represents a significant increase from recent weeks. One week ago, on May 18, there were 22 active rigs, meaning activity has risen by five rigs in the past seven days. Compared to one month ago (April 25), when there were 23 active rigs, the count is up by four.

This rising rig activity aligns with broader North American trends. According to Rigzone, North America added 21 rigs week-on-week as of May 25, based on the latest Baker Hughes rotary rig count.

The increased drilling follows a period of sharply higher oil prices driven by geopolitical events. According to a Yahoo News report on the state's May 22 "Director's Cut" briefing, the price for North Dakota crude surged to $84.33 per barrel in March, up from $57.74 in February. This increase is linked to the U.S. war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Mark Bohrer, assistant director of the Oil and Gas Division, noted companies are taking advantage of the higher price environment.

The price spike has prompted a reversal from some major operators. The same report noted that Continental Resources founder Harold Hamm announced on May 22 that his company would resume drilling new rigs in North Dakota, having paused the activity in January when prices were lower.

The state's production infrastructure is also at a peak. The Department of Mineral Resources reported a record 19,639 active producing wells in March, up 224 from February, according to the Yahoo News article. March production was 1.142 million barrels per day.

Industry leaders are framing the current activity within a longer-term technological push termed "Bakken 2.0." As reported by Bing News from the recent Williston Basin Petroleum Conference, a combined investment exceeding $100 million from the state, the Department of Energy, and private industry is fueling research into enhanced oil recovery. The goal is to improve recovery rates beyond the current estimated 15% from the Bakken formation, which has already yielded over six billion barrels of oil since 2010.