Sunday, September 6, 2026

Jump to Today

Next Day

The Afternoon Take

Energy Market Briefing

Listen

0:00 / 5:33

☀️Morning Wire7:00 AM CST

The Morning Take

Energy Market Briefing

Read Analysis →

Listen

0:00 / 6:26

Oil Prices

WTI Holds Above $91 as Crude Inventories Tighten

Front-month West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures held above $91 per barrel in quiet Sunday trading, supported by a reported drawdown in U.S. commercial inventories. WTI for October delivery traded at $91.48, a marginal gain of 18 cents. The global Brent benchmark saw a stronger increase, rising 76 cents to $96.28 per barrel, according to live price data. The price support follows data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) showing a reduction in nationwide crude stocks. According to Rigzone, crude oil inventories, excluding the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, stood at 424.5 million barrels for the week ending August 28. This week-on-week drawdown indicates ongoing firm demand relative to supply. The Bakken discount to the WTI benchmark was recorded at -$3.42 per barrel. This differential, which represents the price adjustment for Bakken crude delivered at Clearbrook, Minnesota, is a key metric for North Dakota producers' realized revenue. A stable or...

☀️Morning Wire·Sep 6

Rig Report

North Dakota Rig Count Holds at 35, Up 7 from Month Ago

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota held steady at 35 on Sunday, September 6, according to live data from Bakken Wire. There was no change from the previous day, with no new rigs added, removed, or relocated. The current count represents a slight pullback from one week ago, when 36 rigs were active on August 30. However, drilling activity in the Bakken formation has shown significant growth over the past month, with the rig count up by 7 units from the 28 rigs reported on August 7. The stability in North Dakota contrasts with a broader decline in North American drilling activity reported last week. According to Baker Hughes data reported by OGJ, the total North American rig count fell to 792 for the week ended September 4. This decline was driven entirely by a reduction in Canadian activity, which dropped by 7 rigs to 204. The...

☀️Morning Wire·Sep 6

Daily Activity

DMR Daily Activity Report Shows No New Filings for Saturday

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) daily activity report for Saturday, September 5, 2026, contained no new filings for oil and gas operations. According to the DMR report, there were no new permits approved, wells spudded, completions reported, or wells plugged. The DMR's daily report is a key indicator of near-term drilling and production activity in the Bakken formation. It typically lists new drilling permits issued by the state, notices of when a well has been spudded (drilling commenced), reports of well completions, and notices of well plugging activities. Days with no new activity are a normal occurrence in the reporting cycle, especially on weekends and during holidays when regulatory offices are closed and field operations may slow. The lack of filings for a single day does not indicate a trend but represents a routine pause in administrative reporting. Operators and service companies monitor these daily reports to...

☀️Morning Wire·Sep 6

Global Markets

Global Supply Disruption Lifts Oil Above $90, Bolstering Bakken Economics

Oil prices are holding above $90 per barrel as a prolonged war in the Middle East forces a fundamental rewrite of global oil trade routes, creating sustained price support for Bakken producers, according to an OilPrice.com report. Both Brent crude and West Texas Intermediate are trading at these elevated levels, with analysts suggesting future declines may be less severe than in recent months. The conflict has severely disrupted flows through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global chokepoint. Before U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, the strait handled nearly 20 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude exports from Gulf States. Current daily flows are now estimated at just 6 to 8 million bpd. Liquefied natural gas exports are also heavily impacted, with Qatar's Ras Laffan hub damaged and under force majeure. Exporters are scrambling to establish alternative routes. Saudi Arabia has reversed the flow of its East-West pipeline to...

☀️Morning Wire·Sep 6

Pipeline & Infrastructure

Decade Since DAPL Protests Began, Standing Rock Flashpoint Remembered

This week marks ten years since protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) intensified into a major conflict at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota. According to a report from the Williston Herald, the world's attention turned to the state in early September 2016 after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved plans for the $3.7 billion crude oil pipeline half a mile outside the reservation. The decision sparked a months-long standoff that pitted American energy development against tribal sovereignty. A grassroots movement of Indigenous protesters and allies from around the world argued the project threatened water supplies, sacred tribal sites, and the environment. Developers and state officials, meanwhile, maintained that modern steel pipelines offered safer fossil-fuel transit than railroads or trucks. Thousands of people, including Native Americans and climate activists, flocked to the plains south of Bismarck. Their numbers grew to the point of threatening to overwhelm...

☀️Morning Wire·Sep 6

🔆Midday Wire11:00 AM CST

The Midday Take

Energy Market Briefing

Read Analysis →

Listen

0:00 / 5:13

Oil Prices

Crude Prices Edge Higher Amid OPEC+ Supply Discipline, Bakken Discount Widens

Front-month WTI crude futures traded at $91.48 per barrel midday Sunday, a slight gain of 18 cents or 0.2%. The global benchmark Brent crude rose more sharply to $96.28, up 76 cents or 0.8%. Natural gas prices also advanced, adding 6 cents to $2.98 per MMBtu. The price support continues to be underpinned by ongoing supply management from the OPEC+ alliance. The group is maintaining its current production cuts, which have tightened global physical supplies and provided a floor for prices. This disciplined approach from major exporters is countering concerns over potential demand softness. For Bakken producers, the headline WTI price masks a more challenging local pricing environment. The Bakken differential—the discount at which Bakken crude trades versus the WTI benchmark at the Cushing, Oklahoma hub—was recorded at -$3.42. This means Bakken wellhead prices are effectively in the high-$88 range, significantly reducing the netback for operators compared to the benchmark....

🔆Midday Wire·Sep 6

Pipeline & Infrastructure

Standing Rock Pipeline Protests Mark 10-Year Anniversary, Recalling 2016 Flashpoint

The protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) reached a critical flashpoint in early September 2016, an event marking its 10-year anniversary this week, according to a report from the North Dakota Monitor. The $3.7 billion crude oil pipeline project ignited a months-long conflict after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved its route half a mile outside the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The decision framed a national debate pitting American energy infrastructure against tribal sovereignty and environmental concerns. While developers and state officials argued modern steel pipelines were safer for fossil-fuel transit than railroads or trucks, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and a growing movement of allies contended the project threatened water sources, sacred sites, and the environment. What began as a smaller protest swelled into a major encampment south of Bismarck, drawing thousands of Indigenous people and activists from around the world. High-profile supporters, including actors Shailene Woodley...

🔆Midday Wire·Sep 6

🌅Afternoon Wire4:00 PM CST

Oil Prices

WTI Holds at $91.48, Bakken Discount Widens to $3.42

Front-month WTI crude futures held steady at $91.48 per barrel on Sunday, with the global Brent benchmark at $96.28. The Bakken differential, representing the discount for North Dakota sweet crude at the Clearbrook, Minnesota hub, widened to $3.42 below WTI. The sustained high price environment is largely attributed to ongoing global supply tensions stemming from the Iran War, which began after U.S.-Israeli attacks in February and led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. According to a report from OilPrice.com, these events have driven oil and gas prices up sharply in recent months, creating energy shortages and forcing consumers worldwide to pay a premium for fuel. This price pressure is having a tangible impact on transportation demand in certain markets. The same report highlights that high fuel costs are powering an electric motorcycle boom, particularly in low-income countries and crowded cities where two-wheel vehicles are prevalent. In Pakistan, where...

🌅Afternoon Wire·Sep 6

Rig Report

Bakken Rig Count Holds Steady at 35, Up 25% From August

The number of active drilling rigs in North Dakota remained unchanged at 35 for Sunday, September 6, 2026, according to live data from Bakken Wire. The count showed no new additions, removals, or location moves compared to the previous day. While flat day-over-day, the current activity level represents a notable increase from one month prior. On August 7, 2026, the state reported 28 active rigs, meaning the count has risen by seven rigs, or 25%, over the past four weeks. The weekly trend shows a minor contraction. The rig count is down by one unit from the 36 rigs reported on August 30, 2026. A rig count of 35 places activity well above the historic lows seen during industry downturns but below the peak boom-year levels that exceeded 200. The current figure reflects a measured pace of development focused on core Bakken and Three Forks formations within the Williston Basin....

🌅Afternoon Wire·Sep 6