ND Rig Count Holds at 26; Hamm Announces Continental's Return to Drilling

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 26 on Monday, May 25, according to live rig data monitored by Bakken Wire. There were no changes reported from the previous day, with no new rigs added, removed, or moved.

The current fleet represents an increase from recent levels. One week ago, on May 18, the state reported 22 active rigs, and one month ago, on April 25, there were 23 rigs operating.

The stability and recent uptick in activity come as major Bakken producer Continental Resources announces a return to drilling. Continental founder Harold Hamm stated on Thursday, May 22, that his company will resume drilling new rigs in North Dakota, according to a report from the state's monthly "Director's Cut" briefing. In January, Hamm had halted new drilling due to low oil prices, marking the first time in 30 years Continental wasn't drilling in the state.

The decision to resume operations is directly tied to higher oil prices. When Continental paused activity in January, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude benchmark was around $60 per barrel. By Friday, May 22, the WTI price had risen to $101.02 per barrel, the state reported. North Dakota's own wellhead price averaged $84.33 per barrel in March, a significant jump from $57.74 in February.

State officials linked the improved price environment to global events. Assistant Director of the Oil and Gas Division Mark Bohrer, presenting March data, noted the impact of the U.S. war with Iran, which began on Feb. 28, and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. "Companies are taking advantage of the higher oil prices," Bohrer said.

The March production data, the most recent available, shows the state produced 35.4 million barrels, or 1.142 million barrels per day. That is a nearly 1% increase from February but about 1% below the state's revenue forecast of 1.15 million barrels per day. A key distinction for March was that the number of producing wells reached a record high of 19,639, up 224 from the previous month.

The broader industry context was a focus at the recent Williston Basin Petroleum Conference in Bismarck. According to a conference report, industry leaders are focused on "Bakken 2.0," with a combined investment exceeding $100 million from the state, the federal Department of Energy, and private industry aimed at developing enhanced oil recovery technologies. The goal is to improve recovery rates, which currently stand at less than 15% of the oil in place.

With a major operator like Continental signaling a return to the field and the state's producing well count at a record high, the stable rig count suggests operators are maintaining development pace amid a favorable price climate while looking toward future technological advances to extend the life of the Bakken formation.