DMR Issues 5 New Confidential Permits to Formentera Operations in Burke County
State regulators approved a batch of permits for a single operator in the western Bakken, while two previously confidential wells were revealed.
The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) approved five new drilling permits on Friday, all issued to a single operator for locations in Burke County, according to the daily activity report. All five permits are designated for the 'CONFIDENTIAL' field.
Permit numbers 43150 through 43154 were granted to Formentera Operations LLC for wells named SAINT-14-35-PGN S610HX, S512H, S614H, S516H, and S618H. The permits are all located within the same drilling unit (SAINT-14-35-PGN) in Burke County, situated in the far northwestern reaches of the Williston Basin. The confidential status of these permits means specific location data and other details are temporarily withheld from public disclosure.
This concentrated batch of permits highlights Formentera Operations as the most active filer in yesterday's report and signals continued interest in the Bakken formation's western extension. Activity in Burke County often involves targeting the Three Forks formation beneath the primary Bakken shale.
In addition to new permits, the DMR report included updates on confidentiality statuses for two previously filed wells. Well #42063, operated by Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C., the William 25-36 3H in McKenzie County, is no longer listed as confidential. Its location is provided as NW NW of Section 25, Township 152 North, Range 101 West.
Similarly, well #42212, operated by Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC, the BL-SVOR-156-95-0403H-4 in Williams County, has also had its confidential status lifted. Its location is listed as Lot 4 of Section 4, Township 156 North, Range 95 West.
The lifting of confidential status is a standard procedure, typically occurring after a well has been drilled or after a set period, allowing the operator's specific development plans to become public record. The disclosure for the Hess and Devon wells provides more precise geographical data for their ongoing operations in the core areas of the Bakken.
Friday's permitting activity underscores a focused operational push by Formentera in a specific section of Burke County. While the confidential designation limits immediate public insight, such grouped permits often precede a multi-well drilling campaign. The other notable activity involved administrative updates for major operators Hess and Devon in the high-production counties of Williams and McKenzie.
Source
North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Daily Activity Report for July 24, 2026.