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ND Bakken Rig Count Holds at 37, One Rig Relocates - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

ND Bakken Rig Count Holds at 37, One Rig Relocates

The state's active drilling rigs show stability as North America's overall rig addition streak breaks.

Bakken Wire Staff·☀️Morning Wire·

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 37 on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, with no net change from the previous day, according to Bakken Wire live data. One rig did relocate within the core Bakken region.

Phoenix Operating LLC moved the T&S DRILLING 2 rig to a new location in McKenzie County, specifically to 146-98-32. This movement within the state's most active oil-producing county indicates ongoing operational optimization by operators.

The current count of 37 rigs represents an increase from levels seen earlier in the month. Compared to one week ago (October 13), the state has added three rigs. The growth is more pronounced over a longer period, with five more rigs active now than there were one month ago on September 20, when the count stood at 32.

This local stability in the Bakken contrasts with a broader slowdown in North American drilling activity reported last week. According to a Baker Hughes rig count cited by Rigzone, North America as a whole dropped five rigs week-on-week, breaking a prior streak of additions. The report was published on Monday, October 19, 2026.

The steady rig count in North Dakota's key oil-producing formation occurs amid evolving international energy policy discussions. In related news, Rigzone reported that a draft European Union policy has softened its language regarding Arctic drilling. The wording, a topic of intense discussions between the EU and Norway, had previously included climate-based opposition to oil and gas exploration in the region. Norway has lobbied for the EU to abandon that stance.

For Bakken operators and service companies, a rig count in the upper 30s signifies sustained, moderate activity levels. The count is a leading indicator of future oil production in the Williston Basin. The month-over-month increase of five rigs suggests a measured uptick in drilling plans and capital deployment within the state.

The consistency in the daily count, with only positional changes, points to a period of operational equilibrium. Operators are continuing to drill new wells and complete drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) without a significant near-term expansion or contraction of the active drilling fleet.

Source

Bakken Wire live rig data, historical context data, Rigzone

rig countdrillingbakkennorth dakotaphoenix operatingmckenzie countybaker hughes

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