North Dakota Bakken Rig Count Holds at 25 as Conference Focuses on Future

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 25 on Thursday, May 21, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The tally reflects a net change of zero from the previous day, as one new rig commenced operations and another was released.

The new activity was from Formentera Operations, LLC, which spud a well using the NABORS B23 rig in Burke County at location 162-94-25. Concurrently, Hunt Oil Company released the NABORS B25 rig from its location at 160-91-35, also in Burke County. No rigs were reported to have moved locations.

The current count represents a slight increase in recent drilling activity. One week ago, on May 14, the state reported 24 active rigs. The count has risen by three rigs over the past month, up from 22 active rigs on April 21.

The stability in rig activity comes as the industry gathers to discuss its long-term future. According to Bing News, thousands of oil and gas professionals are in Bismarck this week for the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference, one of the largest industry events in North Dakota. The conference began on Tuesday, May 19.

A key theme emerging from the event is the next phase of development for the prolific Bakken formation. A separate Bing News report from May 20 highlighted discussions around "Bakken 2.0," described as a plan to double North Dakota's oil recovery. The report noted that thousands gathered for the second day of the conference to focus on this forward-looking strategy.

The steady rig count, coupled with the ambitious recovery goals discussed at the major industry conference, suggests operators are maintaining core drilling operations while planning for enhanced techniques. The Bakken formation, a shale play spanning western North Dakota and parts of Montana, is the state's primary oil-producing region.

Drilling rigs are a leading indicator of future oil production. The current level of 25 rigs is significantly lower than the peak activity seen in the early 2010s but reflects a stabilized pace of development in recent years. Operators continue to focus on core counties like Burke, McKenzie, and Williams for the most efficient wells.

The Williston Basin Petroleum Conference is expected to conclude on Thursday, with further details on technological advancements and operational strategies likely to influence drilling plans in the coming quarters.