North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 36 Amid Single Rig Move

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 36 on Friday, September 11, 2026, according to live rig data from Bakken Wire. There were no new rigs added and none removed from the state's tally since the prior day.

One rig did change location. Murex Petroleum Corporation moved the H & P 515 rig to a new wellsite at 157-95-29 in Williams County, the core of the Bakken formation.

The current activity level represents a consistent gain over recent weeks. The rig count is up by two compared to one week ago, when 34 rigs were active on September 4. The increase is more pronounced over the past month, with six more rigs running now than on August 12, when the count stood at 30.

The stability at 36 rigs follows a period of gradual growth, reflecting sustained, measured investment by operators in the Williston Basin. Rig count is a key leading indicator for future oil production in the state, which is the third-largest oil producer in the United States, largely due to output from the Bakken and Three Forks formations.

While day-to-day moves can be minimal, the monthly trend shows a solid increase in drilling activity. A six-rig gain over a one-month period suggests operators are responding to stable or favorable market conditions by deploying additional capital to drilling programs. Williams County, where the lone rig move occurred, consistently hosts the highest concentration of drilling activity in North Dakota.

The current count remains significantly below the peak activity levels seen in the pre-2015 boom years but indicates a focus on efficient operations and capital discipline within the current commodity price environment. The steady climb from 30 to 36 rigs over the past month will support the ongoing need for well completions to maintain North Dakota's oil production, which has recently hovered near 1.2 million barrels per day.