ND Rig Count Rises to 36; XTO, Kraken Add New Drilling Rigs

North Dakota's active drilling rig count increased to 36 on Thursday, September 10, 2026, according to live Bakken Wire data. The net gain of one rig from Wednesday follows the addition of two new rigs and the release of one.

The new rigs added to the tally are operated by XTO Energy Inc. and Kraken Operating, LLC. XTO's H & P 429 rig is now active in McKenzie County at location 153-96-3. Kraken Operating's T&S Drilling 1 rig is now working in Williams County at 158-100-17.

The sole rig removed from the active list was Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC's NABORS x24, which was previously working in McKenzie County at 149-100-33.

Two rigs also moved to new locations within the basin. Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP moved its H & P 603 rig to Dunn County (144-95-9). Rockport Energy Solutions LLC moved its H & P 515 rig within McKenzie County to 146-98-18.

The current activity represents a continuation of a steady upward trend in drilling activity in the state's core Bakken formation and Williston Basin. Compared to one week ago on September 3, the rig count is up by one from 35 active rigs. The growth over a longer period is more pronounced, with the count now standing seven rigs higher than the 29 active rigs reported a month ago on August 11.

The movement of rigs between counties and the entry of both a major operator and a smaller private company highlight ongoing development across the play. The sustained increase in the active rig count over the past month suggests operators are continuing to allocate capital to drilling in the Bakken, a key indicator of near-term production activity.

The rig count is a closely watched metric for service companies, royalty owners, and local economies in oil-producing regions. An increase generally signals more work for drilling contractors, fracking crews, and oilfield service providers, as well as future production volumes from new wells.