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North Dakota rig count slips to 35 despite three new starts - Bakken Wire
Rig Report

North Dakota rig count slips to 35 despite three new starts

Net loss of two rigs leaves Williston Basin below last week's 37-rig count but above October levels

Bakken Wire Staff·🌅Afternoon Wire·

North Dakota's active drilling rig count stood at 35 Monday, according to Bakken Wire live rig data.

The count declined by two rigs on a net basis after three new rigs began operations and five rigs were removed from the active list, with no rigs reporting a location move.

The new rigs included Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC's NABORS X-10 at 157-93-17 in Mountrail County, Oasis Petroleum North America LLC's NABORS B26 at 158-92-33 in Mountrail County and Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C.'s PRONGHORN 7 at 154-104-13 in Williams County, according to the live data.

Five rigs left the active list. Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. removed NABORS B 13 from 152-101-23 in McKenzie County and NOBLE 4 from 152-104-3 in Williams County.

Wesco Operating, Inc. removed CAPSTAR 329 from 145-103-20 in McKenzie County. Zavanna Energy Operating, LLC removed NABORS X28 from 153-99-3 in Williams County. Enerplus Resources USA Corporation removed PATTERSON 806 from 158-99-28 in Williams County.

The Monday count was below the 37 active rigs recorded one week earlier, Nov. 2, but remained above the 33 rigs reported a month earlier, Oct. 10.

The one-week decline of two rigs and one-month increase of two rigs suggest a choppy late fall drilling pace across the Bakken, with operators adding new rigs while also removing rigs from active status.

Regionally, Mountrail County and Williams County accounted for all three new rig starts, while McKenzie County and Williams County accounted for the rig removals. Devon Energy Williston was the only operator with both a new rig and two rigs removed, according to the data.

The Bakken formation remains North Dakota's primary oil-producing region, and rig activity is closely watched by operators, royalty owners and service companies because it provides a near-term signal of drilling deployment and pressure pumping demand.

Monday's net change, however, was modest compared with the basin's October-November range, leaving the active fleet near the middle of the recent count.

The local decline came as North America's overall rig count also softened. Rigzone reported that North America dropped two rigs week on week, according to Baker Hughes' latest North America rotary rig count.

Rigzone also reported that President Donald Trump backed a bipartisan energy permitting bill on the eve of a key Senate vote. The plan is designed to speed the federal approval process for major energy and infrastructure projects.

For Bakken operators, the combination of a modest weekly rig decline and a pending federal permitting proposal leaves activity sensitive to both basin economics and regulatory timing.

The live data show that North Dakota's rig fleet still has room to expand from October's 33-rig level, even as Monday's net loss puts the basin slightly below last week's pace.

Source

Bakken Wire live rig data; Rigzone, "North America Goes Back to Losing Rigs, BH Shows"; Rigzone, "Trump Says He Backs Energy Permitting Bill on Eve of Vote"

rig activitynorth dakotabakkenwilliston basinrig countdevon energyhessoasis petroleumbaker hughesenergy permitting

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