North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 22 Amid Regional Activity Increase

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota held steady at 22 on Monday, May 18, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count saw one rig added and one rig removed, resulting in no net change from the previous day.

Silver Hill Energy Operating, LLC added a new rig, NABORS B27, to a location in Mountrail County (158-94-35). Meanwhile, HESS BAKKEN INVESTMENTS II, LLC released the ENSIGN 532 rig from its location in Williams County (156-97-3). No rigs were reported to have moved locations.

The current rig count of 22 is up by one from the 21 rigs active one week ago on May 11. Compared to one month ago on April 18, the count is unchanged.

The stability in North Dakota occurs as broader North American drilling activity shows a slight increase. According to Rigzone, North America added three rigs week-on-week in Baker Hughes' latest rotary rig count, published May 18.

The ongoing global conflict involving Iran, as reported by OilPrice.com, is creating significant disruptions in energy and agricultural markets that could indirectly influence long-term operator decisions. The region is a major supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and key fertilizers. OilPrice.com reports that 20 percent of the world's LNG, a potential feedstock for power generation and industrial processes, is no longer flowing from the Persian Gulf.

Furthermore, the conflict has severely impacted global fertilizer supplies, with the Persian Gulf region supplying 36 percent of the world's urea and 29 percent of its anhydrous ammonia. According to the OilPrice.com report, a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation found that 70 percent of American farmers cannot afford all the fertilizer they need. High input costs for farmers can affect agricultural economics in North Dakota, a major crop producer, though the immediate impact on oilfield activity is not specified in the sources.

For Bakken operators, the combination of steady local rig activity, a slight uptick in the continental rig count, and volatile global commodity markets presents a complex backdrop. Diesel prices, as noted in the OilPrice.com analysis, remain a key operational cost, with persistent high prices potentially affecting field logistics and profitability.