
ND Drilling Rig Count Holds at 27 After Two Additions, Three Departures
Hunt Oil added two rigs in Burke and Divide counties, while three others were released in the western core.
North Dakota's active drilling rig count remained at 27 on Tuesday, June 16, according to live Bakken Wire data, as two new rigs offset three that were released. The tally is unchanged from one week ago but up by five rigs compared to one month ago.
Hunt Oil Company added both of the new rigs. The company deployed T&S Drilling 2 to a location in Burke County (160-91-35) and Nabors B21 to a location in Divide County (160-100-6), the data shows.
Three rigs were released from service. Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP removed two rigs—Noble 6 and Nabors 6—both from the same pad in McKenzie County (151-96-7). Separately, Zavanna Energy Operating, LLC released Nabors X28 from a location in Williams County (155-100-22). No rigs were reported as having moved locations.
The flat week-over-week activity comes amid broader industry discussions about the future of the Bakken. According to a report from northdakotamonitor.com summarized by Bing News, North Dakota elected officials are pushing for rapid progress on next-generation oil production technology ahead of a potential change in the federal administration. The article, headlined "'Time Is The Enemy': Oil Industry Faces Uncertainty In What The Bakken's Next Era Will Look Like," highlights the political and technological pressures facing the basin.
Meanwhile, labor unrest in another major oil-producing region could have indirect implications for global supply and sentiment. Rigzone reported that hundreds of well workers offshore Norway went on strike on Tuesday after the Norwegian Union of Energy Workers refused proposals it viewed as lagging behind industry standards.
The stability in North Dakota's rig count this week follows a noticeable increase over the past month, suggesting sustained, if cautious, operator interest in the Williston Basin. The core counties of McKenzie, Williams, and Mountrail continue to host the majority of drilling activity, though Tuesday's new deployments show ongoing work in Divide and Burke counties as well.
Source
Bakken Wire Live Rig Data, Bing News summary of northdakotamonitor.com, Rigzone


