North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 23 for Third Consecutive Report

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota remained unchanged at 23 on Wednesday, May 6, according to the latest live data from Bakken Wire. There were no new rigs added, no rigs removed, and no rigs that moved location since the previous report.

This marks the third consecutive reporting period with no movement in the state's drilling fleet. The rig count has now held steady at 23 for over a week, matching the total from Wednesday, April 29. Furthermore, the count is identical to the level reported one month ago, on April 6.

The prolonged stability at 23 active rigs indicates a period of consistent, measured drilling activity across the Bakken formation and Williston Basin. This plateau follows the significant downturn and subsequent recovery in activity seen in prior years. Operators appear to be maintaining a focused capital discipline, directing rigs to their most productive core acreage.

A static rig count over this timeframe suggests operators are executing planned drilling programs without significant expansion or contraction. The consistency can provide stability for oilfield service companies and local economies reliant on drilling activity. For production, a steady rig count typically supports maintaining or moderately growing output from new wells, offsetting the natural decline from legacy production.

The current level of 23 rigs is a fraction of the historic highs seen during the Bakken boom but represents a stabilized floor for the modern era of the play. The focus for operators continues to be on maximizing capital efficiency and returns through improved drilling techniques, longer laterals, and enhanced completion designs on a select number of pads.

With no day-over-day changes and a multi-week trend of flat activity, the near-term trajectory for the state's rig count will depend heavily on commodity price signals and individual operator budgets for the remainder of the second quarter.