North Dakota Bakken rig count steady at 23 with no daily change
Active drilling rigs hold flat in the state's primary oil-producing region
North Dakota's active drilling rig count remained unchanged on Sunday, May 10, 2026, holding at 23 rigs across the state, according to the latest live rig data. No rigs were added or removed from the count, and no rigs were reported to have moved location.
The current count represents a holding pattern following recent weekly activity. One week ago, on May 3, the state reported 23 active rigs. One month ago, on April 10, the rig count stood at 24, indicating a slight, longer-term decline of one unit.
The stability comes as state and industry leaders focus on initiatives to boost long-term oil recovery from the vast Bakken shale formation. The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced a $36 million investment in a carbon dioxide (CO₂)-based enhanced oil recovery (EOR) research program led by the University of North Dakota’s Energy & Environmental Research Center. The effort aims to evaluate strategies for unlocking billions of barrels of incremental oil.
Separately, North Dakota officials have unveiled a broader, $157 million initiative aimed at significantly increasing oil output through enhanced recovery techniques in the Bakken. The state-led plan seeks to double recovery rates from the unconventional formation, which typically yields only about 10% of its oil in place during initial production.
The steady rig activity suggests operators are maintaining a measured pace of new drilling amid these long-term technical and planning efforts. The Bakken formation remains North Dakota's primary oil-producing region.
Source
Bakken Wire staff
