North Dakota Rig Count Holds Steady at 36

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota's oil fields remained unchanged at 36 on Monday, according to live rig data. The total held steady as two new rigs were deployed, while two others were released from service.

EOG Resources, Inc. and Continental Resources, Inc. each added a new rig to the state's fleet. EOG spudded the H & P 259 in Mountrail County at location 157-90-31. Continental spudded the PATTERSON 297 in Williams County at location 155-95-2. The two rigs removed were both located in the core Bakken county of McKenzie. Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. released the NOBLE 4 from location 152-101-14, and Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC released the ENSIGN 532 from location 149-100-30. No rigs were reported as moving location.

The current activity level represents a continuation of the recent upward trend in drilling. The rig count is up by two compared to one week ago, when 34 rigs were active on August 24, 2026. The increase over the past month is more pronounced, with the fleet having grown by nine rigs since August 1, 2026, when the count stood at 27.

The steady count and recent growth reflect ongoing investment by major operators in the Williston Basin. The new deployments by EOG and Continental, two of the basin's largest producers, signal sustained development plans in key counties. Mountrail and Williams counties are both long-established core areas of the Bakken formation.

Conversely, the removal of rigs by Devon and Hess in McKenzie County illustrates the routine churn of drilling programs as operators complete wells and move equipment. McKenzie County consistently leads the state in both rig count and oil production.

The rig count is a key leading indicator for future oil production in North Dakota. A stable or growing fleet suggests operators are maintaining or increasing their pace of development, which supports local service companies and state tax revenue. The current level of 36 rigs, while significantly higher than a month ago, remains below the peaks seen in previous boom cycles but indicates a period of steady operational activity.