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BAKKEN WIRE
North Dakota Rig Count Climbs to 34, Adding 2 New Rigs - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Climbs to 34, Adding 2 New Rigs

The Bakken's active drilling fleet increased by two rigs in the past 24 hours, continuing a steady multi-week growth trend in the basin.

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

North Dakota's active drilling rig count rose to 34 on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The state added two new rigs and saw one removed in the last day, for a net daily gain of one rig.

The new additions were both located in Divide County. Phoenix Operating LLC spudded the PATTERSON 280 rig at location 162-95-28, while FORMENTERA OPERATIONS, LLC began operations with the NABORS B23 rig at 162-96-13. The sole rig removed was ENERPLUS RESOURCES USA CORPORATION's PATTERSON 806 rig, which had been working at 157-99-11 in Williams County.

One rig also changed location. FIREBIRD SERVICES, LLC moved the T&S DRILLING 2 rig to a new site at 149-102-18 in McKenzie County.

The current count of 34 rigs continues a significant upward trend in Bakken drilling activity over recent weeks. The active fleet has grown by five rigs since one week ago, when 29 rigs were running on August 11, 2026. The increase is even more pronounced compared to one month ago; the state has added nine rigs since July 19, 2026, when the count stood at 25.

The local growth aligns with a broader regional trend reported by industry sources. According to Rigzone, North America added eight rigs week on week, based on Baker Hughes' latest North America rotary rig count published Tuesday. This indicates the uptick in the Williston Basin is part of a wider recovery in North American drilling activity.

The sustained increase from 25 to 34 rigs in one month represents a 36% rise in the active drilling fleet, signaling renewed operator confidence and capital deployment in the Bakken formation. Divide County, which received both of Tuesday's new rigs, has been a focal point for activity alongside the core McKenzie and Williams County areas.

Rig count is a closely watched leading indicator for future oil production in North Dakota, the nation's second-largest oil-producing state. The steady multi-week climb suggests operators are preparing to maintain or slightly increase production levels through the latter half of 2026.

Source

Bakken Wire live rig data, Rigzone

rig countdrillingbakkenwilliston basindivide countymckenzie countywilliams countyoperators

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