WTI Crude--
Brent Crude--
Natural Gas--
ND Rig Count--
WTI Crude--
Brent Crude--
Natural Gas--
ND Rig Count--
North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 24 with Three New Additions - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 24 with Three New Additions

Activity net increases by one rig as Devon, Enerplus, and Continental deploy new drills in Williams County.

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

North Dakota's active drilling rig count rose to 24 on Tuesday, a net increase of one rig from the previous day, according to live Bakken Wire data. Three new rigs were deployed while two were removed from operation.

The new additions were all concentrated in Williams County. Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. spudded the NABORS B 13 at location 154-102-6. Enerplus Resources USA Corporation added the PATTERSON 806 at 157-99-11. Continental Resources, Inc. deployed the NOBLE 4 at 155-95-2.

Two rigs were removed from the field. Marlo Operating Company, LLC's STONEHAM 16 was released from location 129-103-19 in Bowman County. XTO Energy Inc.'s H & P 429 was released from 154-96-10 in Williams County. No rigs were reported as having moved locations.

The current count of 24 rigs holds steady compared to one week ago on June 30, 2026. However, activity remains down by three rigs from the level of 27 active rigs recorded one month ago on June 7.

The state's flat weekly trend mirrors a broader North American pattern. According to Rigzone, North America's overall rig count stayed flat week on week, according to Baker Hughes' latest North America rotary rig count published Tuesday. The report noted this ended a streak of weekly additions.

The concentration of new activity in Williams County underscores its continued status as the core of the Bakken play. The removal of a rig from the less-active Bowman County reflects typical operational adjustments by smaller operators.

The rig count is a key leading indicator for future oil production in the Bakken formation. A stable count near current levels suggests operators are maintaining a disciplined pace of development drilling. Major operators like Continental Resources and Devon Energy continue to anchor the state's drilling program.

Source

Bakken Wire live rig data, Rigzone

rig countdrillingwilliams countydevon energyenerpluscontinental resourcesxto energymarlo operating

Share this article

Related Articles

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 33 After Three Rigs Dropped - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 33 After Three Rigs Dropped

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota held steady at 33 on Wednesday, October 7, despite three rigs being released by operators, according to live rig data. The net count was unchanged from one week ago on September 30. Three rigs were released from service on Wednesday. Hunt Oil Company released the T&S Drilling 1 rig from a location in Burke County (159-90-33). Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. released the Noble 4 rig from Dunn County (149-91-18). XTO Energy Inc. released the H & P 429 rig from McKenzie County (153-96-3). No rigs were reported as moving to new locations. The current count of 33 rigs represents a decrease of two rigs from the level seen one month ago on September 7, when 35 rigs were active. The stability over the past week suggests a period of equilibrium in drilling activity, with new rigs being added to replace those...

🌅Afternoon Wire·Oct 7
North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 36, Up Three Over Past Week - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 36, Up Three Over Past Week

North Dakota's active drilling rig count held steady at 36 on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, according to live rig data from Bakken Wire. The data showed no new rigs added, none removed, and no rigs moving location since the prior day. The current count represents a gain of three rigs compared to one week ago, when the state reported 33 active rigs on September 30, 2026. Compared to one month ago, activity is up by one rig from the 35 rigs reported on September 7. A rig count in the mid-30s is consistent with the operational tempo seen in the Bakken formation over recent years, as producers focus capital discipline and efficiency gains in the mature shale play. The stability in the count suggests operators are maintaining, but not aggressively expanding, their drilling programs as of early October. The Williston Basin, home to the Bakken and Three Forks formations, remains...

☀️Morning Wire·Oct 7
North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 36; Zavanna Adds New Williams County Rig - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 36; Zavanna Adds New Williams County Rig

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota increased by one to 36 on Tuesday, October 6, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The gain marks a continuation of recent activity increases in the Williston Basin. The sole addition was a rig operated by Zavanna Energy Operating, LLC. The company spud the NABORS X28 rig at a well location in Williams County (Section 3, Township 153N, Range 99W). No rigs were removed from service or moved to new locations within the state on Tuesday, resulting in the net gain of one. The current rig count of 36 represents a significant weekly increase. One week ago, on September 29, 2026, the state reported 30 active rigs, meaning the fleet has grown by six units over the past seven days. Compared to one month ago, activity is also up marginally. On September 6, 2026, the state's rig count stood at...

🌅Afternoon Wire·Oct 6