North Dakota Rig Count Climbs to 30 with Two New Additions

The number of rigs actively drilling for oil and gas in North Dakota rose to 30 on Wednesday, August 5, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count increased by two from the previous day, with no rigs removed or moved to new locations.

The new activity came from two operators in different counties. Koda Resources Operating, LLC, spud the STONEHAM 17 well in Divide County (160-103-22). Meanwhile, Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C., added the PRONGHORN 7 well in McKenzie County (151-102-34).

The latest increase continues a multi-week expansion of drilling activity in the Williston Basin. The current rig count of 30 represents a gain of four rigs compared to one week ago, when 26 rigs were active on July 29. The growth is more pronounced over the past month, with seven more rigs working now than on July 6, when the count stood at 23.

The rising rig count coincides with potential supportive policy developments for energy logistics. In a media briefing at the Port of Brownsville in Texas on Wednesday, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright commented on Jones Act waivers, which allow non-U.S. flagged vessels to transport refined products like gasoline and diesel between U.S. ports. "I think another temporary extension of the Jones Act waivers are quite likely to happen," Wright said, according to a report from Rigzone. Such waivers can help alleviate fuel supply bottlenecks and support refining margins, indirectly benefiting upstream producers.

In other industry news, the permitting phase has begun for the Coastal Bend LNG project in Texas, with the developer requesting a pre-filing review from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Rigzone reported. While not a direct Bakken project, new LNG export capacity supports long-term natural gas demand. Separately, international operator ADNOC announced the deployment of an AI-powered Real-Time Operations Center to manage over 120 rigs, highlighting a continued industry trend toward digital efficiency that is also prevalent among Bakken operators.

The sustained increase in North Dakota's drilling activity suggests operators are responding to a stabilized price environment and focusing on core acreage in prolific counties like McKenzie and Divide. The current level, however, remains below the peaks seen in previous boom cycles, indicating a continued focus on capital discipline and efficiency.