North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 33, Adds One New Drilling Rig

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 33 on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, following the addition of one new rig and no reported departures, according to live data from Bakken Wire.

One new drilling unit was activated. Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC spudded a new well using the Nabors x24 rig at a McKenzie County location (149-100-33). The move marks a return to drilling activity for Hess in the state.

Two existing rigs changed locations within the Williston Basin, both moving into Divide County. Phoenix Operating LLC moved the T&S Drilling 2 rig to location 160-97-19. Formentera Operations, LLC moved the Nabors B23 rig to location 161-97-16.

The current rig count of 33 represents a decrease of two units from one week ago, when 35 rigs were active on September 8. However, activity has increased by one rig compared to one month ago, when the state reported 32 active rigs on August 16.

The modest uptick in North Dakota aligns with a broader North American trend reported Tuesday. According to Rigzone, citing the latest Baker Hughes data, North America as a whole added six rigs week on week, breaking a recent streak of losses.

The Bakken formation remains the primary engine of oil production in North Dakota, with drilling activity concentrated in the core counties of McKenzie, Mountrail, Dunn, and Williams. Rig count is a closely watched leading indicator for future oil production and service sector activity in the region.

The stability in the rig count suggests operators are maintaining a disciplined capital spending approach amid ongoing market volatility. The movement of rigs between locations is a routine part of development planning as companies work through multi-well pads.

With the addition of the Hess rig, the state's active fleet continues to demonstrate incremental growth over the longer term, supporting steady production levels from the prolific Williston Basin.