DMR Approves Five New Permits, Koda Resources Dominates Divide County Activity

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved five new drilling permits in filings dated Monday, September 21, 2026, according to the agency's Daily Activity Report. Four of the permits were filed by Koda Resources Operating LLC, all targeting locations in Divide County.

Koda Resources was the most active operator in the latest report. The company received approval for two horizontal wells in the East Goose Lake field: the ALE 2436-2BHN and the ALE 2436-3BHN. It also secured permits for two more horizontal wells in the Daneville field: the ALE 2436-5BH and the ALE1326-6BH, as reported by the DMR.

The only other permit approved was for SOGC LLC, designated as confidential. This permit, #43319, is for the MARTENS 4-5-6- 1LNH well in Mountrail County within the 'CONFIDENTIAL' field, according to the DMR filings. Confidential status is typically granted for 180 days to protect an operator's proprietary drilling plans.

In a separate administrative action, the confidential status for an existing well was extended. The DMR report listed an update for permit #41730, operated by Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP. The well, named HBU HAZEL 9S MBH, is located in the SW SW 13- 148N-98W of McKenzie County within the Haystack Butte field. The listing indicates the well's confidential designation remains active.

The latest permitting activity highlights continued operator interest in Divide County, a core area within the Bakken formation's Williston Basin. Koda Resources' four new permits suggest a concentrated development program on its acreage in the East Goose Lake and Daneville fields. Meanwhile, the single confidential permit in Mountrail County and the status extension in McKenzie County reflect ongoing, though less publicly detailed, activity in other key Bakken counties.