North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 39, Flat Day Over Day

North Dakota oil and gas drilling activity continued to trend higher this week, with the state’s active rig count reaching 39 rigs, according to Bakken Wire live rig data. The count held flat day over day, with no new rigs added, no rigs removed and no rigs moving location since yesterday.

The latest count is 3 rigs higher than the 36 active rigs reported one week ago, on Oct. 22, and 9 rigs higher than the 30 active rigs recorded a month ago, on Sept. 29. The month-over-month increase points to a broader expansion in drilling activity across the Williston Basin, even as the daily data showed no rig movements.

Rig counts are a closely watched indicator for Bakken operators because drilling is often a first step toward well completion, production testing and future oil and natural gas output. A rising count can also signal increased demand for drilling services, frac crews, sand, water and logistics providers in North Dakota.

For royalty owners and state mineral interests, sustained drilling activity is often associated with more wells being drilled and more development opportunities in active oil basins. The Bakken Wire data does not identify operators, well locations or drilling targets in the latest update.

The flat day-over-day change leaves the current rig fleet unchanged, while the week and month comparisons show net growth. In many basins, daily rig counts can move in small increments even during a multi-week upward trend as contractors mobilize, move between pads or remain on long-term projects.

Daily rig movements can also reflect pad spacing, wellbore depth and the mix of horizontal versus vertical drilling, though the report does not break down those categories. In shale basins, one rig may move between nearby pads while remaining in the same general operating area. The unchanged day-over-day figures mean no net additions or losses were recorded in the latest update, while the longer-term trend remains positive.

North Dakota’s rig count has been increasing through the month, according to the historical data. The jump from 30 rigs on Sept. 29 to 39 rigs on Oct. 29 represents a 30% increase in active rigs over the 30-day period, based on the reported counts. The week-over-week increase from 36 to 39 represents an 8.3% rise.

The data does not show which rigs are operating in specific counties or formations, but North Dakota’s active rig fleet is generally concentrated in oil-producing areas such as the Bakken and Three Forks formations. Those formations have long been central to the state’s oil and gas development.