# Bakken Formation in North Dakota: Operators, Permits & Activity 2026
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> Bakken oil and gas activity in North Dakota: 35128 wells across 1289 operators, 33 recent permits. Top operators, top counties, recent permits and DUC inventory targeting the Bakken formation. Refreshed monthly.

**URL:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/formation-north-dakota/bakken
**Source:** Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
**Generated:** 2026-08-23 (heuristic; server-side extraction)

## Answer
Quick answer: The Bakken formation in North Dakota has 35,128 wells on record across 1,289 active operators, with 33 drilling permits filed in the last 24 months (as of 2026-08-23). Its most active operators by well count are Continental Resources, Hess Bakken Investments Ii, Whiting Petroleum Corp., Oasis Petroleum North America and Devon Energy Williston,LLC. Compiled from North Dakota Industrial Commission (NDIC) well-header records, refreshed monthly.

## Dataset
**Name:** Bakken Formation – North Dakota Oil & Gas Activity

Bakken formation operator and drilling activity in North Dakota: 35,128 wells, 1,289 active operators, 33 permits in the last 24 months. Top operators, top counties, recent permits, and DUC inventory.

**Variables measured:**
- Total Wells: 35128
- Active Operators: 1289
- Recent Permits (24 Months): 33

## Page Outline
- Bakken Formation in North Dakota
  - Top Operators in the Bakken (North Dakota)
  - Primary North Dakota Counties for the Bakken
  - Recent Bakken Drilling Permits in North Dakota
  - About the Bakken Formation in North Dakota
  - Frequently Asked Questions
  - Own Bakken Mineral Rights in North Dakota?
  - Related Operator Intelligence

## Related Pages
- [North Dakota Oil & Gas Industry Snapshot Dashboard](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/north-dakota-oil-gas-industry-snapshot)
- [Top North Dakota Operators Leaderboard](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/top-operators-north-dakota)
- [North Dakota Drilling Activity Report (permits, DUCs, spuds)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/north-dakota-drilling-activity-report)
- [US Mineral Market Activity Index (all 11 states ranked 0–100)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/us-mineral-market-activity-index)
- [US Mineral & Drilling Activity Index (national rollup)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/us-drilling-activity-index)
- [Texas Industry Snapshot (largest producing state)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/texas-oil-gas-industry-snapshot)
- [Oklahoma Industry Snapshot](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oklahoma-oil-gas-industry-snapshot)
- [Largest US Operators — National Leaderboard](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/top-operators-us)
- [Browse the Full Operator Directory](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/operators)
- [Live Oil & Gas Prices (WTI + Henry Hub)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oil-gas-prices)
- [Sell Your North Dakota Mineral Rights](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell)
- [How to Sell Mineral Rights (Step-by-Step)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/2026/how-to-sell-mineral-rights)
- [Oil & Gas Market Data Hub (all dated datasets)](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/oil-gas-market-data)

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