North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 29, Up Four From Month Ago

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota held steady at 29 on Friday, August 7, according to live rig data from Bakken Wire. The total showed no day-over-day change, with no new rigs added, no rigs removed, and no rigs moving location.

The current count represents a net increase of two rigs compared to one week ago, when 27 rigs were active on July 31. More significantly, the state's drilling activity is up by four rigs over the past month, rising from a base of 25 rigs on July 8.

The stability at 29 rigs continues a period of measured growth in the Bakken formation's drilling activity. While the day-to-day count can be static, the weekly and monthly gains indicate a gradual expansion of operational focus by oil and gas producers in the Williston Basin. This incremental increase in rigs typically signals sustained development planning and capital deployment, even amid fluctuating commodity prices.

The rig count is a key leading indicator for future oil production in North Dakota, the United States' third-largest oil-producing state. Each active rig represents a capital-intensive operation to drill and complete new wells, which will later contribute to the state's monthly output. The current level of activity, while significantly below historic peaks seen in the early 2010s, reflects a modern era of focused efficiency and capital discipline.

Operators in the Bakken have consistently emphasized drilling longer lateral wells and improving completion techniques to maximize recovery from each pad. A stable or growing rig count, therefore, can support future production levels even if the absolute number of rigs is lower than in previous cycles. The month-over-month increase suggests operators are maintaining or slightly increasing their development pace heading into the latter half of 2026.

Market observers monitor the North Dakota rig count closely for signals about operator sentiment and the health of the basin's oil-directed activity. The recent upward trend from 25 to 29 rigs over four weeks points to a cautiously optimistic environment for drilling, though the pace of additions remains moderate. The focus for Bakken operators continues to be on generating free cash flow and returning capital to shareholders, with drilling programs calibrated to meet those financial targets.