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 oil and gas tax revenue.

The increased price environment appears to be supporting renewed operator focus on the basin. In related news, TXO Partners is highlighting momentum in the Williston as part of its strategy. According to a separate Bing News source from August 21, TXO Partners is positioning itself as a "production and distribution company" and is selectively investing in a portfolio that includes the Williston Basin, alongside the Permian and San Juan basins. The company is eyeing higher cash distributions for 2027.

The current rig count of 34, while substantially higher than recent lows, remains well below the peak activity levels seen in the Bakken's boom years, which regularly exceeded 200 rigs. The recent climb suggests operators are responding to improved economics by cautiously deploying more capital to drilling programs.

A stable or growing rig count is a leading indicator for future oil production and service sector activity in North Dakota. The increase over the past month signals a positive trend for oilfield service companies, royalty owners, and state tax collections.

Market observers will monitor whether the rig count stabilizes at this new plateau or if operators continue to add drilling rigs in the coming weeks, guided by commodity price signals and corporate investment plans.