North Dakota rig count slips to 35 amid modest U.S. uptick

North Dakota's active oil and gas rig count stood at 35 on Friday, according to live rig data, after two rigs were added and three were removed with no reported location moves.

The state's count is down one from 36 rigs a week earlier, on Oct. 30, 2026, but up two from 33 rigs a month earlier, on Oct. 7, 2026.

The additions included Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP's NABORS b20 at 145-96-12 in Dunn County and XTO Energy Inc's NOBLE 2 at 153-96-13 in McKenzie County.

The removals were Formentera Operations, LLC's NABORS B23, previously at 162-94-25 in Burke County; Oasis Petroleum North America LLC's NABORS B26, previously at 152-102-19 in McKenzie County; and Kraken Operating, LLC's NABORS B 12, previously at 158-100-17 in Williams County.

For Bakken operators and royalty owners, the count gives a near-term view of development pace in North Dakota, even as the broader U.S. drilling fleet edged higher. The day's activity was spread across Dunn, McKenzie, Burke and Williams counties.

Nationally, the total number of active U.S. oil and gas rigs rose to 604, up 56 from the same time last year, OilPrice.com reported Friday, citing Baker Hughes data. Active oil rigs rose by one to 463, while gas rigs also increased by one to 131, according to the report. Miscellaneous rigs fell by one to 10.

The Permian Basin rig count rose by one to 273, up 22 rigs from a year earlier, while the Eagle Ford count held at 50, eight above year-ago levels, OilPrice.com reported. U.S. crude oil production reached a record 14.003 million barrels per day for the week ending Oct. 30, up from 13.992 million barrels per day the prior week and up 352,000 barrels per day from a year ago, according to the report, citing EIA data.

Completion activity, however, eased. Primary Vision's frac spread count fell for the third straight week, losing three crews to 191, although it remained 16 higher than a year earlier, OilPrice.com reported.

The rig data arrived during a sharp oil-price decline. Brent traded at $97.32 per barrel, down 0.99% on the day but down about $20 per barrel from the same time last week, while WTI traded at $90.00, down 0.57% and roughly $14 per barrel lower week over week, OilPrice.com reported.

Internationally, UK cabinet ministers are lobbying Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh to approve drilling at the Rosebank field in the North Sea, Rigzone reported.

For North Dakota, the Friday data shows a small net contraction in active rigs, but the state remains above its one-month count. The additions in Dunn and McKenzie keep drilling activity in two Williston Basin counties, while the departures in Burke, McKenzie and Williams reduce the state's active fleet.