
DMR Report: 3 New Permits, 1 High-IP Well, and Confidential Status Changes
Enerplus and Formentera secure new drilling approvals while confidential field activity surges and Kraken reports a strong McKenzie County completion.
The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved three new drilling permits in its latest daily activity report. Enerplus Resources USA Corporation received one permit in Williams County, while Formentera Operations, LLC secured two permits in Divide County, according to the DMR filings.
The approved permits are:
- Permit #43048 to Enerplus for the HELSTAD 5899 11-28 3BHP, located in the NW NW of Section 28-158N-99W within Williams County's Ellisville field.
- Permit #43049 to Formentera Operations for the MATADOR-16-05-DIV N517HF, located in Divide County within a field listed as 'CONFIDENTIAL'.
- Permit #43050 to Formentera Operations for the MATADOR-16-05-DIV N619HX, also located in Divide County within a 'CONFIDENTIAL' field.
The filings reveal Formentera Operations as the most active company in the report, with its two new permits following a series of eight other wells moving to confidential status. The DMR reported status changes for eight Formentera wells across two pads in Burke County. The Jackson and Piper pads (specifically wells #42021-#42024 and #42456-#42459) were all moved to confidential status. Separately, Kraken Operating, LLC had a permit (#42418) for the Emerson 33-28-21 #3H in Williams County canceled.
In production news, Kraken Operating also reported a high-performing well completion. The STEEN LW 12-13-24 #10H, located in the NE NE of Section 11-149N-101W in McKenzie County, was listed as a producing well completed. It reported an initial production rate of 806 barrels of oil per day (BOPD) and 2,216 barrels of water per day (BWPD).
The activity highlights continued, though modest, permitting in the core Bakken and Three Forks play areas, with Williams, Divide, and Burke Counties seeing action. The shift of multiple Formentera wells to confidential status indicates ongoing development planning and drilling activity that is temporarily shielded from public disclosure, a common step in the operational sequence.
Source
North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Daily Activity Report

