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BAKKEN WIRE
North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 27 After Single Rig Swap - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 27 After Single Rig Swap

Phoenix Operating adds a new rig in Divide County as Koda Resources removes one, keeping the state's drilling fleet unchanged from yesterday.

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota remained steady at 27 on Friday, July 31, 2026, following a one-for-one exchange in the state's northwest region. According to live rig data, one new rig commenced operations while another was released.

The activity was concentrated in Divide County. Phoenix Operating LLC deployed the T&S DRILLING 2 rig at location 160-98-22. Concurrently, KODA RESOURCES OPERATING, LLC released the STONEHAM 16 rig from location 161-102-36. No rigs were reported to have moved locations.

The current count of 27 rigs represents a net gain of three rigs from one week ago, when 24 were active on July 24. Compared to one month ago on July 1, the state's rig fleet is up by one.

The modest activity in the Bakken mirrors a cautious trend in the broader U.S. oil patch. According to data from Baker Hughes published Friday and reported by OilPrice.com, the total number of active oil rigs nationwide rose by just one this week to 451. The Permian Basin added two rigs, while the Eagle Ford also added two. The national count is 41 rigs higher than the same period last year.

Oil prices provided a mixed backdrop for drillers. OilPrice.com reported that on Friday, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude was trading up on the day at $84.67 per barrel. However, the broader market context shows volatility, with Brent crude down $6 per barrel from the previous week.

Federal policy developments may also be on operators' minds. Rigzone reported that industry groups welcomed the Senate Natural Resources Committee's approval of the License to Drill Act (S.5039). Dan Naatz, IPAA Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer, stated the bill "reauthorizes a long-standing policy that is an important framework for federal land producers." While North Dakota's core Bakken development occurs largely on private and state land, federal policy can influence regional operator sentiment and planning.

The stability in North Dakota's rig count comes as U.S. crude production showed a minor weekly dip. Citing the latest U.S. Energy Information Administration data, OilPrice.com reported production averaged 13.796 million barrels per day for the week ending July 24, a slight decrease from 13.798 million bpd the prior week.

Source

Live Rig Data, OilPrice.com, Rigzone

rig countdrillingbakkenwilliston basinphoenix operatingkoda resourcesdivide countywti

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