North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 24 Despite Two Rig Drops

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota remained at 24 on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, despite two rigs being released from service, according to live rig data. The count is unchanged from one week ago but is down by two rigs compared to the 26 rigs active on June 14.

Two rigs were removed from the field with no new additions and no rigs moving locations. Murex Petroleum Corporation released the H & P 515 rig from a location in Williams County (157-95-29). Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. released the Pronghorn 7 rig from a location in McKenzie County (151-102-27).

The static week-over-week count for the Bakken comes as the broader North American drilling market shows signs of a pullback. According to a report from Rigzone, North America's overall rig count dropped by 10 rigs week on week, marking its first decline in months based on the latest Baker Hughes rotary rig count data.

The current level of 24 rigs represents a historically low level of drilling activity for the Williston Basin, which has seen rig counts exceed 50 during periods of higher commodity prices and stronger operator investment. The stability over the past week suggests a temporary equilibrium, but the two-rig decline from a month ago indicates a gradual downward trend in capital deployment for new wells.

The release of rigs by both a private operator (Murex) and a major public producer (Devon) reflects the ongoing capital discipline and operational adjustments across the sector. Operators continue to focus on completing drilled but uncompleted wells (DUCs) and maximizing production from existing assets rather than aggressively expanding drilling programs.

For service companies and communities in the core Bakken counties of Williams and McKenzie, the current rig level supports a baseline of activity but offers limited growth. The trend will be closely watched for its implications on future oil production volumes, as the current rig fleet is insufficient to offset the basin's natural production decline rates over the long term.

The next weekly Baker Hughes rig count, along with the state's own daily tally, will indicate whether the North Dakota market follows the broader continental trend into a sustained period of reduced drilling.