North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 22 for Third Consecutive Week

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota remained at 22 on Saturday, May 16, 2026, according to Bakken Wire live data. No rigs were added, removed, or moved location since the prior day.

This marks the third consecutive week where the state's rig count has hovered at this level. The count is down by one rig compared to one week ago, on May 9, when 23 rigs were active. It is unchanged from the 22 rigs active one month ago, on April 16.

The steady activity in the Bakken contrasts with a broader uptick in U.S. drilling this week. According to data from Baker Hughes published on Friday, May 15, the total number of active oil and gas rigs in the United States rose. The national oil rig count increased by 5 to 415, while the total rig count reached 551, OilPrice.com reported.

Leading the national increase was the Permian Basin, where the rig count rose by 4 to 246. The Eagle Ford play saw a decline of one rig to 42.

The U.S. rig activity is climbing amid a significant surge in crude oil prices. As of Friday, May 15, Brent crude was trading at $109.50 per barrel, up $9 on the week, while WTI was at $105.50, up $10 week-over-week, according to OilPrice.com. The report cited the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a price catalyst.

Supporting the increased drilling tempo, well completion activity is also rising nationally. Primary Vision’s Frac Spread Count, which estimates crews completing wells, rose by 5 to 179 during the week ending May 8—its highest level since November, OilPrice.com reported.

U.S. crude oil production has also been near record levels. Data from the Energy Information Administration for the week ending May 8 showed production averaged 13.710 million barrels per day, just 152,000 bpd under the all-time high.

Despite the favorable price environment and national trends, Bakken operators have not yet deployed additional rigs. The current count of 22 is significantly below the historical peaks seen in the previous decade, reflecting continued capital discipline and a focus on efficiency by producers in the Williston Basin.