North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 24 Amid Global Supply Concerns

North Dakota's active drilling rig count remained unchanged Monday at 24, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The figure shows no movement from the previous day, with no new rigs added, no rigs removed, and none relocated.

The current count represents a slight increase of one rig compared to one week ago, when 23 rigs were active on July 6. However, activity remains down by two rigs from the level seen one month ago on June 13, when 26 rigs were operating in the state.

The steady local rig activity unfolds against a backdrop of renewed global supply concerns. According to a report from OilPrice.com, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned Monday that continued U.S. military intervention in the Strait of Hormuz "could lead to greater incidents in the global oil and gas sector." The warning follows a weekend of escalated hostilities, including U.S. strikes on Iran and Iranian claims that the critical oil transit chokepoint is closed.

The report states that ship-tracking services showed no vessels braving the strait in the early hours of Monday, with escalation slowing transit "to a trickle." Analysts from ING noted the situation is "renewing concerns over oil supply tightness through the third quarter." This geopolitical tension was reflected in rising oil prices and falling equities early Monday.

Separately, broader drilling policy was in focus last week. Rigzone reported that International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol urged the European Union on July 11 to reconsider its moratorium on drilling for oil and gas in the Arctic. Such policy debates can influence long-term investment and development strategies for hydrocarbon resources globally.

For Bakken operators, the stable rig count suggests a focused, maintained level of development activity in the near term. The Williston Basin remains a cornerstone of U.S. onshore production, and its output contributes to national supply stability even as international flashpoints emerge. The lack of daily rig movement indicates operators are holding course with existing drilling programs.

Market volatility driven by events like the Strait of Hormuz disruption can impact crude pricing, which in turn influences the economics of future drilling plans in shale basins like the Bakken. North Dakota's production continues to be a key component of domestic energy security.