Bakken Rig Count Stable at 22 Amid Flat Week

North Dakota's active drilling rig count remained at 22 on Monday, May 18, 2026, according to Bakken Wire's daily rig activity report. There was no day-over-day change, with no new rigs added, no rigs removed, and no rigs moving location.

The current count reflects a stable, measured pace of drilling activity in the Bakken formation and Williston Basin. The rig count is unchanged from a month ago, which was also 22 active rigs on April 18. However, it represents a slight increase from one week ago, when the state had 21 active rigs on May 11.

A rig count of 22 places North Dakota's drilling activity significantly below historical peaks seen during previous boom cycles but within a range that has become typical for the mature shale play in recent years. The stability over the past month suggests operators are maintaining consistent capital expenditure plans for development drilling, likely focused on core areas of the Bakken.

The lack of day-over-day movement—with no rigs added or released—indicates a pause in the near-term ebb and flow of rig contracts. This can be influenced by factors such as well completion schedules, crew rotations, and logistical moves between drilling pads. The fact that no rigs physically moved location also points to ongoing work on current projects.

For Bakken operators and service companies, a steady rig count provides predictability for staffing, equipment deployment, and supply chain logistics. For royalty owners and local economies in oil-producing counties, it signals sustained, though not expanding, drilling activity and associated employment.

The rig count is a key leading indicator for future oil production in the state, as new wells drilled today will contribute to output months later. A count holding at 22 suggests production levels should remain supported in the coming quarters, barring significant changes in completion activity or well productivity.

Market observers often watch for sustained increases or decreases in the rig count to gauge operator confidence and response to oil prices. The current stability, framed against the one-rig increase from last week, shows a cautious but consistent operational tempo in North Dakota's oil fields.