North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 24 After Single Release
The state's active drilling rigs remain unchanged from yesterday's total, continuing a gradual decline from levels seen earlier this summer.
The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota remained at 24 on Friday, July 24, 2026, according to live rig data from Bakken Wire.
One rig was released since Thursday's report, with no new rigs added and no rigs moving location. The net day-over-day change was zero.
The rig removed was Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C.'s PRONGHORN 7, located in McKenzie County (151-102-27).
The current count of 24 active rigs represents a slight downtrend over recent weeks. One week ago, on July 17, 2026, the state had 25 active rigs. The count is down by three rigs compared to one month ago, when 27 rigs were active on June 24, 2026.
The Bakken formation is North Dakota's primary oil-producing region, and the rig count is a closely watched indicator of near-term drilling activity and capital investment by operators. The current level suggests a stable but cautious operational tempo among producers.
McKenzie County, where the released rig was located, is typically the most active county for drilling within the Williston Basin. A reduction of a single rig there does not signal a broad shift but contributes to the overall gradual easing of activity.
The rig count serves as a leading indicator for future oil production, with changes in the active fleet often foreshadowing shifts in output several months later. A steady count in the mid-20s indicates a maintained focus on core development areas by major operators.
Industry analysts monitor these figures alongside commodity prices and well productivity to gauge the health of the state's oil sector. The modest pullback from June levels may reflect routine portfolio management and efficiency efforts by companies rather than a significant strategic retreat.
Source
Bakken Wire Live Rig Data
