North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34, Up 9 From July

North Dakota's active drilling rig count remained unchanged at 34 on Saturday, August 22, according to the latest live data from Bakken Wire. The figure shows no movement from the previous day, with no new rigs added, removed, or relocated.

The current count represents a significant increase from levels seen earlier this summer. The state's active rig fleet is up by two rigs compared to one week ago, when 32 rigs were active on August 15. More notably, the count has risen by nine rigs over the past month, jumping from 25 active rigs on July 23.

This sustained higher level of drilling activity coincides with improved oil production numbers for the state, as reported by other news sources this week. According to a summary from Yahoo Finance Energy, North Dakota oil data shows an uptick in production and a jump in the number of drilling rigs, a positive trend for a state reliant on oil and gas tax revenue.

The upward trend in rig activity is being mirrored by specific operator plans in the Williston Basin. TXO Partners LP is shifting its focus in the region toward longer-lateral horizontal drilling, according to a company presentation reported by Yahoo Finance Energy. The company, which expanded into Montana's Elm Coulee area of the Williston Basin through its White Rock acquisition in 2025, is moving away from refracturing older wells.

TXO Partners has identified more than 100 additional drilling locations in the Williston and plans to drill seven wells there in 2026, the report stated. Company leadership described the Williston as becoming a "major growth driver." TXO expects 2026 capital spending of roughly $80 million to $90 million and aims to maintain a disciplined leverage profile.

The company's strategy is focused on generating cash distributions, with a target of paying $1.60 per unit over the next twelve months and an anticipated distribution increase in 2027, according to the source. TXO Partners holds approximately 520,000 net acres across the Permian, San Juan, and Williston basins.

The broader context for increased drilling includes higher oil prices linked to geopolitical tensions. The same summary of North Dakota oil data cited an ongoing U.S. war with Iran and resulting higher oil prices as a factor in the improving production figures.

The stable rig count at a elevated monthly level suggests operators are maintaining drilling programs to capitalize on favorable market conditions and execute on identified inventory, such as the more than 100 locations highlighted by TXO Partners in the Williston Basin.