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North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 39, White Rock Adds New Rig - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Rises to 39, White Rock Adds New Rig

The Bakken's active rig count increased by one to 39 on Wednesday, continuing a steady upward trend over the past month.

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

North Dakota's active drilling rig count increased to 39 on Wednesday, November 4, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count is up by one rig from the previous day.

The sole addition was a new rig deployed by White Rock Oil & Gas, LLC. The company's NABORS B25 rig is now active at location 146-99-17 in McKenzie County, the core county of the Bakken formation. No rigs were removed or moved locations on Wednesday.

The current activity level represents a steady climb over recent weeks. The state's rig count was 38 one week ago, on October 28, and stood at 35 one month ago, on October 5. This marks a net gain of four rigs over the past four weeks.

The incremental growth in the Bakken aligns with a broader trend reported across North America. According to a report from Rigzone published Wednesday, North America as a whole added six rigs week-on-week, based on the latest North America rotary rig count from oilfield services firm Baker Hughes.

A rig count of 39 remains significantly below the boom-time peaks seen in the early 2010s but reflects sustained, measured activity by operators in the Williston Basin. The count is a key leading indicator for future oil production and service sector demand in the state.

McKenzie County continues to be the focal point for drilling activity, hosting the new White Rock rig. The county consistently holds the majority of North Dakota's active drilling units due to its high-density, productive acreage.

The gradual month-long increase suggests operators are maintaining disciplined capital programs while responding to stable commodity prices and operational efficiencies. Each active rig supports hundreds of direct and indirect jobs in North Dakota's oilfield services, transportation, and hospitality sectors.

Bakken Wire provides daily monitoring of rig movements and drilling permits to track the pace of development in the nation's third-largest oil-producing region.

Source

Bakken Wire live rig data, Rigzone report dated November 4, 2026

rig countdrillingwhite rock oil & gasmckenzie countybaker hughesbakkenwilliston basin

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