North Dakota Bakken Rig Count Holds at 34

North Dakota's active drilling rig count remained at 34 on Wednesday, September 9, according to live rig data. The total showed no net change from the previous day despite one rig being released from service and another being moved to a new location.

One rig was removed from the state's active fleet. Enerplus Resources USA Corporation released the PATTERSON 806 rig from its location in Section 11 of Township 157 North, Range 99 West in Williams County.

In a separate move, Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC relocated the ENSIGN 532 rig. The rig moved to a new location in Section 15 of Township 152 North, Range 95 West in McKenzie County, the core county of the Bakken formation.

The current count of 34 rigs represents a decline from one week prior. On September 2, 2026, the state reported 37 active rigs, meaning the fleet has decreased by three rigs over the past seven days.

However, the longer-term, one-month trend shows an increase in drilling activity. Compared to the 28 rigs reported active on August 10, 2026, the current count is up by six rigs. This indicates that despite the recent weekly pullback, the overall level of drilling operations in the Bakken remains higher than it was a month ago.

Rig count is a closely watched leading indicator of future oil production in the Williston Basin. The stability of the count near the mid-30s reflects ongoing, measured development by operators in the play. Movements of individual rigs, like the Hess rig moving within McKenzie County, are a routine part of field operations as companies complete wells on one pad and mobilize drilling equipment to the next.

The concentration of activity continues to be focused on the core Bakken and Three Forks producing areas within counties like McKenzie, Williams, Mountrail, and Dunn. The data shows operators are actively managing their drilling programs, with the overall fleet size holding steady in the near term.