** North Dakota Holds at 33 Active Rigs, Matching Month-Ago Level

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The active drilling rig count in North Dakota held steady at 33 on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, according to Bakken Wire live data. The count showed no day-over-day changes, with no rigs added, removed, or relocated.

This stability places the state's current activity level unchanged from one month ago, which also stood at 33 rigs on August 17. However, the count is down by one rig compared to one week ago, when 34 rigs were active on September 9.

The state's rig activity, a key indicator of future oil production in the Bakken formation, continues at a pace significantly lower than the peaks seen in previous boom cycles but reflects a recent period of equilibrium for operators in the Williston Basin.

The local steadiness coincides with a broader, albeit slight, uptick in North American drilling activity. According to a report from Rigzone citing Baker Hughes data, North America added six rigs week on week, breaking a recent streak of losses. The Rigzone article, published Monday, September 15, stated that the North America rotary rig count showed a net gain of six units for the week.

For Bakken operators, maintaining the current rig count suggests a focus on capital discipline and development of core acreage, with activity levels responsive to commodity prices and operational efficiency gains.

The Bakken formation remains North Dakota's primary oil-producing region. The rig count is closely watched by service companies, royalty owners, and local economies in the western part of the state, as it directly influences employment and industrial activity.

While the weekly North American gain reported by Baker Hughes provides a positive signal for the continental oilfield services sector, the Bakken-specific data indicates a continuation of the measured activity pace that has characterized the region in recent years.

TAGS: Rig Count, Drilling Activity, Bakken, North Dakota, Oil & Gas, Williston Basin, Baker Hughes

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