WTI Crude--
Brent Crude--
Natural Gas--
ND Rig Count--
WTI Crude--
Brent Crude--
Natural Gas--
ND Rig Count--
BAKKEN WIRE
North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 24, Adding Two New Permitted Rigs - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 24, Adding Two New Permitted Rigs

The statewide active rig count increased by one net unit, with new drilling activity reported in Divide and McKenzie counties.

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota rose to 24 on Wednesday, July 22, according to live rig data. This represents a net gain of one rig from the previous day, with two new rigs added and one rig released from service.

Two new permitted drilling rigs commenced operations. Phoenix Operating LLC spud the PATTERSON 268 well in Divide County at location 162-95-27. In McKenzie County, DEVON ENERGY WILLISTON, L.L.C. started drilling the PRONGHORN 7 at 151-102-27.

One rig was released from duty. HESS BAKKEN INVESTMENTS II, LLC released the NABORS x24 rig from its previous location at 149-100-33 in McKenzie County.

A separate Hess-operated rig was relocated. HESS BAKKEN INVESTMENTS II, LLC moved the NABORS X27 rig to a new location at 156-98-2 in Williams County.

The current activity level of 24 rigs represents a slight decline from recent weeks. The rig count is down by two from one week ago, on July 15, 2026, when 26 rigs were active. Compared to one month ago, on June 22, 2026, the count is down by three rigs from a total of 27.

The Bakken formation remains the primary oil-producing region in North Dakota, with drilling activity concentrated in the core counties of the Williston Basin. Rig counts are a closely watched leading indicator for future oil production in the state.

Source

Bakken Wire Live Rig Data

rig countdrillingnorth dakotabakkenwilliston basinphoenix operatingdevon energyhess

Share this article

PostShareShareEmail

Related Articles

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34, Up 10 from July - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34, Up 10 from July

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota remained unchanged at 34 on Sunday, August 23, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count showed no movement, with no new rigs added, removed, or relocated since Saturday. The current activity level represents a significant increase from recent lows. The rig count is up by two from the 32 rigs reported one week ago on August 16, and is up by ten from the 24 rigs active one month ago on July 24. While onshore shale activity in the Bakken holds steady, major international oil companies are pursuing high-risk, high-reward drilling projects in other basins. According to a report from OilPrice.com, Mexico's Pemex and Brazil's Petrobras have formed a partnership to drill prospects in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico off Mexico's coast. The companies are targeting source rock formations described as miles deeper and eight times...

🌅Afternoon Wire·Aug 23
North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34, Up 10 from July - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34, Up 10 from July

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 34 on Sunday, with no rigs added, removed, or moved in the past 24 hours, according to live Bakken Wire data. The current count represents a two-rig increase from one week ago and a ten-rig jump from the 24 rigs active one month ago on July 24, 2026. The stability at a higher level follows a period of significant growth, underscoring increased operator confidence. According to a recent state briefing, the count had reached 33 rigs earlier in the week, up from 26 in mid-July. Nathan Anderson, director of the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, highlighted the importance of this expansion during an Aug. 20 media briefing, Yahoo Finance reported. "We have seven additional rigs in the basin this month that we didn't have just 30 days ago, and that's important," Anderson said. The recent rig count increase has been...

☀️Morning Wire·Aug 23
North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 34 as Multi-Week Expansion Continues - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

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...

🌅Afternoon Wire·Aug 22