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BAKKEN WIRE
Bakken Rig Count Rises to 31, Marking Steady Two-Month Climb - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

Bakken Rig Count Rises to 31, Marking Steady Two-Month Climb

Two new rigs were deployed in Divide and McKenzie counties as the state's active fleet continues its recovery from spring lows.

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

North Dakota's active drilling rig count increased by two to 31 on Wednesday, according to live rig data from Bakken Wire. The state added two new rigs and saw one relocation, with no rigs taken offline.

The new rigs include Phoenix Operating LLC's T&S DRILLING 2 in Divide County (162-95-28) and TOBACCO GARDEN SWD LLC's T&S DRILLING 3 in McKenzie County (152-97-31). In a separate move, OASIS PETROLEUM NORTH AMERICA LLC relocated the NABORS B26 rig to a new location in Mountrail County (157-93-13).

The current count of 31 rigs continues a steady upward trend observed over the past two months. The active fleet is up four rigs from one week ago, when 27 rigs were active on May 27, 2026. Furthermore, the count has increased by eight rigs from the total of 23 active just one month ago on May 4, 2026.

This sustained increase in drilling activity occurs amid industry discussions about the future of the Bakken formation. According to a recent report from Bing News, North Dakota officials are pushing for rapid progress on next-generation oil production technology ahead of potential federal policy shifts. The report, summarized from Yahoo Finance, notes that oil and gas executives have expressed concerns about uncertainty facing the industry's next era.

The consistent week-over-week and month-over-month gains suggest operators are continuing to deploy capital into new drilling programs despite a broader climate of political and technological uncertainty. The Bakken formation remains North Dakota's primary oil-producing region, and rig count is a leading indicator of future production activity.

The recent additions in Divide and McKenzie counties highlight ongoing operator interest in core areas of the Williston Basin. The rig count's recovery from 23 to 31 active units over the past month represents a significant increase in drilling momentum as the industry moves into the summer months.

Source

Bakken Wire Live Rig Data, Bing News summary of Yahoo Finance article published June 1, 2026.

rig countdrillingnorth dakotabakkenwilliston basinphoenix operatingoasis petroleummckenzie countydivide countymountrail county

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