DMR Approves Four Phoenix LLC Wells in McKenzie County's Ranch Creek

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved four new drilling permits in its latest daily activity report, all filed by a single operator targeting a specific McKenzie County field. Meanwhile, five existing permits were renewed, and eight wells were released from confidential status, revealing new production data.

All four newly approved permits belong to Phoenix Operating LLC for the Leatherman pad in the Ranch Creek field. The permits, numbered 43131 through 43134, are for the LEATHERMAN 12-1-36-25 1H, 2H, 3H, and 4H wells. According to the DMR report, they are all located in the SE SW of Section 12, Township 146N, Range 99W in McKenzie County. This batch approval signals concentrated near-term development activity by Phoenix in this area.

The report listed five permit renewals, with Silver Hill Energy Operating, LLC and Formentera Operations, LLC being the most active. Silver Hill renewed three permits: the HERSETH W 159-93-28-33-2TFH in Burke County's Gros Ventre field, the SUNDHAGEN C 158-96-28-33-4MBH in Williams County's Big Meadow field, and the NEBRASKA 3 158-92-5-29-3MBHX in Mountrail County. The DMR noted the NEBRASKA 3 well is now a producing well completed with an initial output of 248 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 4,698 barrels of water per day (BWPD).

Formentera Operations renewed two confidential permits: the CURTIS 13-34-164-101 in Divide County's Colgan field and the BEETLE 3031-163-98-8H in Divide County's Ambrose field. The DMR filing for the BEETLE well also noted it is a 'CONFIDENTIAL’ PRODUCING WELL COMPLETED'.

In a separate category of additional information, the DMR reported eight wells being released from confidential status. This included three wells operated by Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC in Williams County: the GO-ZONA-157-98-3523H-5, the GO-BARB-157-97-3523H-3, and the BL-SVOR-156-95-0403H-5. Two Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C wells in McKenzie County were also released: the WILLIAM 25-36 4H in the Ragged Butte field and the STALLION 33-28 XE 1H.

Other releases included two wells operated by Murfin Drilling Company, Inc. in Dunn County's St. Anthony field: the LC RAMBOUSEK 1-16H and the LC RAMBOUSEK 1-15H. Finally, Petro-Hunt, L.L.C.'s HOIBY 158-94-4C-3-3H in Mountrail County's Powers Lake field was released from confidential status. The release of these filings makes their completion and production data publicly available.