North Dakota Rig Count Drops to 28 as Phoenix Rig Released
The state's active drilling fleet decreased by one rig on Friday, but remains above levels seen earlier this summer.
North Dakota's active drilling rig count fell to 28 on Friday, August 7, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The total represents a decrease of one rig from the previous day.
One rig was released from service on Friday. Phoenix Operating LLC removed its PATTERSON 280 rig from location 162-95-28 in Divide County. No new rigs were added, and no rigs were reported to have moved locations.
Despite the daily decrease, the current fleet of 28 rigs is one rig larger than it was one week ago on July 31, 2026, when the count stood at 27. The count has shown a net increase of three rigs over the past month, rising from 25 active rigs on July 8.
The rig count is a key leading indicator of future oil production activity in the Bakken formation. The current level, while down from the highs of previous boom cycles, suggests a period of stable, measured development by operators in the Williston Basin. Divide County, where the released rig was operating, is a core production area in the northwestern portion of the Bakken play.
The steady count over the past month, hovering in the mid-to-high 20s, indicates that operators are maintaining capital discipline while continuing to drill new wells to offset natural production declines. The movement of a single rig on any given day is a normal part of field operations as operators complete drilling programs and move equipment.
Source
Bakken Wire Live Rig Data
