35,128 wells across 1,290 recorded operators, with 40 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at summary refresh.
Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Quick answer: The Bakken formation in North Dakota has 35,128 wells on record across 1,290 recorded operators, with 40 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh. Its operators with the most wells on record are Continental Resources, Hess Bakken Investments Ii, Whiting Petroleum Corp., Oasis Petroleum North America and Devon Energy Williston,LLC. Source: Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
The operators with the most well counts targeting the Bakken formation in North Dakota:
| # | Operator | Wells in Bakken |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Continental Resources | 2,375 |
| 2 | Hess Bakken Investments Ii | 2,316 |
| 3 | Whiting Petroleum CORP | 2,312 |
| 4 | Oasis Petroleum North America | 1,869 |
| 5 | Devon Energy Williston,LLC | 1,827 |
| 6 | Eog Resources | 1,225 |
| 7 | Xto Energy | 1,180 |
| 8 | Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company | 1,134 |
| 9 | Petrohunt | 1,112 |
| 10 | Enerplus Resources | 1,042 |
The North Dakota counties with the most Bakken activity:
Mc Kenzie, Williams, Mountrail, Dunn, Bottineau
Drilling permits in North Dakota each year, the Bakken count and share of them, and the median lateral length of those Bakken permits.
| Year | State permits | This formation | Share | Median lateral |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 848 | 12 | 1.4% | n<5 |
| 2025 | 1,125 | 25 | 2.2% | n<5 |
| 2024 | 1,110 | 58 | 5.2% | 9,479 ft |
| 2023 | 976 | 63 | 6.5% | 9,430 ft |
| 2022 | 797 | 38 | 4.8% | 9,601 ft |
| 2021 | 658 | 396 | 60.2% | 9,890 ft |
| 2020 | 702 | 96 | 13.7% | 9,601 ft |
| 2019 | 1,372 | 1,268 | 92.4% | 9,897 ft |
Share of each year’s North Dakota drilling permits by target formation, for the formations with the most permits.
| Year | Williston Basin | Bakken |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 98.6% | 1.4% |
| 2025 | 97.8% | 2.2% |
| 2024 | 94.8% | 5.2% |
| 2023 | 93.5% | 6.5% |
| 2022 | 95.2% | 4.8% |
| 2021 | 39.8% | 60.2% |
| 2020 | 86.3% | 13.7% |
| 2019 | 7.6% | 92.4% |
Buckhead Energy computes every figure on this page from grouped records in public oil and gas data. The page shows counts, sums, percentiles and indexes only; it does not list individual wells, leases or permits.
Counts under 3 wells and percentiles under 5 wells are withheld; totals are floors.
Share is the formation’s permits as a percent of the state’s permits that year. Median lateral length is published only when at least 5 permits stand behind it.
Last computed: 2026-11-01. These figures are informational only and are not a valuation of any mineral or royalty interest.
The Bakken is a formation/play group recorded in North Dakota, with 35,128 wells on file across 1,290 distinct operators of record. Operators have filed 40 drilling permits targeting the Bakken in the 24-month window at summary refresh. These are stored records, not a live measure of drilling.
Recorded formation activity provides regional context. It does not establish ownership, future production, royalty payments or a value for an individual tract. Consult qualified professionals about your specific interest.
35,128 wells target the Bakken in North Dakota, worked by 1,290 recorded operators, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
The Bakken operators with the most wells on record in North Dakota are Continental Resources, Hess Bakken Investments Ii, Whiting Petroleum Corp., Oasis Petroleum North America and Devon Energy Williston,LLC. The full ranking is in the table on this page. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Operators filed 40 drilling permits targeting the Bakken in the 24-month window at source refresh, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Operators filed 40 new drilling permits targeting the Bakken in North Dakota in the 24-month window at source refresh. New permits and spuds record reported activity stages; they do not establish ongoing drilling, per Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Bakken activity in North Dakota includes 35,128 wells on record and 1,290 recorded operators, with 40 drilling permits filed in the 24-month window at source refresh — from Buckhead Energy analysis of public oil and gas data. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
The primary counties recorded for Bakken in North Dakota are Mc Kenzie, Williams, Mountrail, Dunn, Bottineau. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Value depends on your net mineral acres or royalty decimal, the operator, the remaining drilling locations, and current oil and gas prices. This page is informational only, not a valuation. Formation summary date: 2026-11-01.
Get a free written offer based on your specific tract, operator, and the current Bakken activity in your area.
Get Your Free Written OfferFormation: Bakken
State: North Dakota
Total wells: 35,128
Recorded operators: 1,290
Permits 24mo: 40
Summary date: 2026-11-01
