North American Rig Count Gains 21; Global Developments Noted

North America added 21 rigs week on week, according to Baker Hughes' latest North America rotary rig count reported by Rigzone. The data, published May 25, 2026, indicates a positive shift in overall drilling activity across the continent.

For Bakken operators, a rising continental rig count can signal improving market conditions and operator confidence, though the specific allocation of these new rigs to the Williston Basin was not detailed in the source. The health of the broader North American drilling sector often influences capital allocation and service sector pricing in key onshore basins like the Bakken.

Internationally, industry advocacy took center stage in the UK. Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) held emergency talks with industry leaders, Rigzone reported. OEUK Chief Executive David Whitehouse stated, "The government must support our own producers, industries, and workers." Such calls for policy support underscore the global competitive and regulatory pressures facing oil and gas producers.

Separately, Russian gas giant Gazprom has started production at the Chona fields in Eastern Siberia, according to a separate Rigzone report. The state-controlled company expects the project to feed up to 2 million tons of oil per year into the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline system. New production from major international projects contributes to global supply, which is a key factor for the pricing environment that Bakken crude competes within.

These developments collectively highlight an active global energy landscape where drilling activity, government policy, and new production starts all play a role in shaping the market fundamentals affecting North Dakota's oil industry.