Burlington Resources Drives New Bakken Permit Activity

Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP was the most active operator securing new drilling permits in North Dakota yesterday, according to the state's Department of Mineral Resources Daily Activity Report. The filings show Burlington received approval for five new permits, all targeting the same location in Dunn County.

All five new permits—numbered 42978 through 42982—are for the "STATE DOLEZAL" wells (2B, 2A, 1B, 2C, 1C) at NW NE 12-145N-96W in Dunn County. The wells are designated for the 'CONFIDENTIAL' field, a status that restricts public release of certain well data. No other operators received new permit approvals in the report.

Permit renewal activity was more widespread, with a total of 12 filings. XTO Energy Inc. accounted for the majority, with nine renewals. Seven of XTO's renewals are for wells in the Grinnell field of Williams County (GBU ZEUS FEDERAL 34X-8H, 8D, 8E, 8A, 8F, 8B, and 8G), all noted as having a "LOCATION OUTSIDE OF SPACING UNIT." The other two XTO renewals are for proposed "DRILLBACK OUTSIDE OF SPACING UNIT" operations at the JOHNSRUD wells (21X-13E and 21X-13A) in McKenzie County's Siverston field.

Burlington Resources also filed three permit renewals for its PATTON wells (3A TFH, 3B MBH, 3C TFH) in Dunn County's Bailey field. These were originally permitted as #32715, #32716, and #32717.

The DMR report included several updates on existing well statuses. Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC, had a filing for its BW-WILSON well (#41031) in McKenzie County's Juniper field. Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C., reported its FINN 13-25F 1H well (#41859) in Williams County's Briar Creek field as a "PRODUCING WELL COMPLETED."

A notable production update was filed for Burlington Resources' CLEETWOOD 7A well (#40913) in McKenzie County. The report listed the well as producing 702 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 555 barrels of water per day (BWPD).

The new permit activity is concentrated in Dunn County, part of the core Bakken production area. The high number of permit renewals, particularly those flagged for drillbacks or location changes outside standard spacing units, indicates operators are working to optimize existing drill sites and acreage.