North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 30, Adds Three New Rigs
Phoenix, XTO, and Zavanna add rigs in Divide, McKenzie, and Williams counties, offsetting two departures, as the count holds at a one-week high.
The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota increased by one to 30 on Wednesday, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The net gain resulted from three new rigs commencing operations and two rigs being released.
Three operators added new drilling rigs across the Williston Basin. Phoenix Operating LLC spud a new well with the PATTERSON 264 rig in Divide County at location 162-95-28. XTO ENERGY INC put the NOBLE 2 rig to work in McKenzie County at 153-96-3. Zavanna Energy Operating, LLC started drilling with the NABORS X28 rig in Williams County at 153-99-3.
The new activity offset the departure of two rigs. Phoenix Operating LLC released the PATTERSON 280 rig from its previous location in Divide County at 162-95-28. BURLINGTON RESOURCES OIL & GAS COMPANY LP released the NABORS b20 rig from McKenzie County location 151-97-7. No rigs were reported as having moved between locations.
The current rig count of 30 is unchanged from one week ago, on August 5, 2026. However, the count represents a significant increase from one month prior; on July 13, 2026, there were 26 active rigs operating in the state, marking a four-rig gain over the past month.
The steady week-over-week count, coupled with the monthly increase, suggests a stabilization of drilling activity at a moderately higher level than seen in mid-summer. The new rig additions by major operators like XTO and established Bakken-focused firms like Phoenix and Zavanna indicate continued capital deployment in core Bakken and Three Forks acreage.
All activity was concentrated in the western oil-producing counties of the state, with no rigs reported in the eastern regions. McKenzie County, a historical center of Bakken production, saw both an addition and a removal, reflecting the constant churn of drilling programs as operators complete wells and move rigs to new pads.
The rig count is a closely watched leading indicator for future oil production in the Bakken formation, North Dakota's primary oil-producing region. A count sustained in the low 30s suggests operators are maintaining a measured pace of development, balancing capital discipline with the need to hold leases and offset production declines from existing wells.
Source
Bakken Wire live rig data, historical context data
