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BAKKEN WIRE
Daily Activity

Daily Permitting Slows to Single Whiting Approval

DMR activity report shows one new permit issued for McKenzie County, alongside several confidential status changes and cancellations.

Bakken Wire Staff·☀️Morning Wire·

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved one new drilling permit on Thursday, October 22, 2026, according to its daily activity report. The sole permit was issued to Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation.

The approved permit, #43432, is for the Garfield Federal 5003 43-15 4B well, located in the SW SE of Section 15-150N-103W in McKenzie County. The well is sited within the Middle Creek field. This single approval represents a significant slowdown in new permitting activity compared to recent reports.

Beyond new permits, the report detailed several filings for confidential status changes. Enerplus Resources USA Corporation filed for a change on permit #41407 for its Crying Tree 147-97-8-5-9H-ELL well in the Little Knife field of Dunn County (SW SE 8-147N-97W). Additionally, SOGC, LLC filed for a change on permit #42444 for its Forest 2-1 1HLE well in the Lone Butte field of McKenzie County (SE SE 3-147N-98W). These filings indicate ongoing administrative activity by operators on existing permits.

The report also listed two permit cancellations. Phoenix Operating LLC cancelled permit #42397 for the T Nelson 1 SWD disposal well in Williams County (Lot 2, Section 3-159N-98W). Resonance Exploration (North Dakota) LLC cancelled permit #90460 for the Resonance Greene 15-23 SWD disposal well in Bottineau County (SW SE 23-163N-98W). Cancellations of saltwater disposal (SWD) permits can reflect changes in midstream water handling strategies or project economics.

The day's limited activity underscores the focus on McKenzie County, which remains the core of the Bakken's drilling operations. Both the sole new permit and one of the confidential status changes were located there. Whiting Oil and Gas's new permit continues its presence in the county, while the cancellation of a Williams County SWD permit may indicate a shift in water management logistics for a smaller operator.

Source

North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Daily Activity Report for October 22, 2026.

dmrdrilling permitswhiting oil and gasmckenzie countyenerplussogcpermit cancellationsbakken

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