North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 34 with New Phoenix Well

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota rose by one to 34 on Thursday, August 20, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The state has added three rigs over the past week and eleven rigs over the past month.

The sole new rig reported was the PATTERSON 276, operated by Phoenix Operating LLC in Burke County. No rigs were removed or moved locations on Thursday.

The current count of 34 rigs represents a significant increase from the 23 rigs active just one month ago on July 21, 2026. The steady upward trend highlights renewed drilling activity in the Bakken formation and wider Williston Basin.

The data comes as industry analytics firm Enverus released its latest rankings of the most active U.S. land drilling contractors and their customers for the first quarter of 2026, according to a report from Rigzone. While the specific rankings for the Bakken were not detailed in the summary, such reports are closely watched by operators and service companies to gauge market share and activity trends.

Rig count is a primary leading indicator for future oil production in the state. The consistent month-over-month growth suggests operators are deploying more capital to drilling programs, though the total remains below historical peaks seen in previous boom cycles.

The location of the new activity in Burke County, situated in the northwestern portion of the Williston Basin, is consistent with ongoing development in the region's core areas.

The weekly and monthly gains provide a positive signal for oilfield service companies, which rely on drilling activity for revenue. The increase from 31 to 34 rigs in one week shows a continuation of the current growth trajectory.

Market observers will monitor whether the rig count stabilizes at this level or continues to climb in the coming weeks, as operator budgets and commodity price forecasts influence drilling decisions.