WTI Crude--
Brent Crude--
Natural Gas--
ND Rig Count--
WTI Crude--
Brent Crude--
Natural Gas--
ND Rig Count--
BAKKEN WIRE
North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 27 for Second Straight Week - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 27 for Second Straight Week

The Bakken's active drilling fleet remains unchanged, continuing a period of stability after a four-rig gain over the past month.

Bakken Wire Staff·☀️Morning Wire·

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota held steady at 27 on Sunday, August 9, according to live rig data from Bakken Wire. The count showed no daily change, with zero new rigs added, zero removed, and no rigs moving locations.

The current activity level represents a period of stability for Bakken operators. The rig count has now been unchanged for a full week, matching the total of 27 active rigs reported on August 2.

Despite the recent plateau, drilling activity in the state's premier oil formation is up significantly from levels seen just one month ago. Compared to the 23 rigs operating on July 10, the current fleet represents an increase of four rigs, or roughly 17%.

The steady rig count comes amid broader industry discussions about the long-term future of the Bakken formation. According to a report from Bing News, the oil industry is facing uncertainty regarding what the Bakken's next era will look like, with one source stating that "time is the enemy."

The active rig count is a key leading indicator for future oil production in North Dakota. A stable count suggests operators are maintaining a consistent, though measured, pace of new well development. The increase over the past month indicates a response to market conditions, though the recent week-long pause may reflect a cautious approach as companies evaluate economics and long-term planning.

The Williston Basin, which contains the Bakken and Three Forks formations, relies on continuous drilling to offset the steep decline rates typical of shale wells. The current activity level will be a primary factor in determining the state's oil output in the coming quarters.

For royalty owners and service companies, a stable rig count provides predictability for local economies in western North Dakota. However, the broader context of industry uncertainty highlighted in recent reporting suggests operators are carefully weighing their capital programs.

Bakken Wire will continue to monitor daily rig movements and provide updates on any changes to the drilling landscape.

Source

Bakken Wire live rig data, historical context data, Bing News

rig countdrillingbakkennorth dakotawilliston basinoil production

Share this article

PostShareShareEmail

Related Articles

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34, Up 10 from July - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34, Up 10 from July

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota remained unchanged at 34 on Sunday, August 23, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count showed no movement, with no new rigs added, removed, or relocated since Saturday. The current activity level represents a significant increase from recent lows. The rig count is up by two from the 32 rigs reported one week ago on August 16, and is up by ten from the 24 rigs active one month ago on July 24. While onshore shale activity in the Bakken holds steady, major international oil companies are pursuing high-risk, high-reward drilling projects in other basins. According to a report from OilPrice.com, Mexico's Pemex and Brazil's Petrobras have formed a partnership to drill prospects in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico off Mexico's coast. The companies are targeting source rock formations described as miles deeper and eight times...

🌅Afternoon Wire·Aug 23
North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34, Up 10 from July - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34, Up 10 from July

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 34 on Sunday, with no rigs added, removed, or moved in the past 24 hours, according to live Bakken Wire data. The current count represents a two-rig increase from one week ago and a ten-rig jump from the 24 rigs active one month ago on July 24, 2026. The stability at a higher level follows a period of significant growth, underscoring increased operator confidence. According to a recent state briefing, the count had reached 33 rigs earlier in the week, up from 26 in mid-July. Nathan Anderson, director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, highlighted the importance of this expansion during an Aug. 20 media briefing, Yahoo Finance reported. "We have seven additional rigs in the basin this month that we didn't have just 30 days ago, and that's important," Anderson said. The recent rig count increase has been...

☀️Morning Wire·Aug 23
North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34 as Multi-Week Expansion Continues - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34 as Multi-Week Expansion Continues

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 34 on Saturday, August 22, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count showed no daily change, with zero new rigs added, zero rigs removed, and no rigs moving location. Despite the static daily figure, the current activity level represents a sustained multi-week expansion in the Williston Basin. The rig count is up by two from the 32 rigs active one week ago on August 15, and has risen by nine rigs, or over 36%, from the 25 rigs operating one month ago on July 23. The broader uptick in drilling coincides with an improvement in the state's oil production, according to a recent report. A source from Bing News, published August 20, noted that North Dakota's oil production numbers continue to improve amid higher oil prices resulting from an ongoing U.S. war with Iran. The state relies heavily on...

🌅Afternoon Wire·Aug 22