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BAKKEN WIRE
Five New Drilling Permits Approved in Stark and Dunn Counties - Bakken Wire
Daily Activity

Five New Drilling Permits Approved in Stark and Dunn Counties

Murfin Drilling and Burlington Resources secure permits, with Burlington's filings designated as confidential.

Bakken Wire Staff·☀️Morning Wire·

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved five new drilling permits in filings dated Thursday, July 30, with activity focused in Stark and Dunn counties, according to the daily activity report.

Three permits were issued to Murfin Drilling Company for wells in Stark County. Permit #43171 is for the WAGNER 1-4H well in the ZENITH field. Permit #43172 is for the WAGNER 1-34H well in the GREEN RIVER field. Permit #43173 is for the WAGNER 1-3H well, also located in the ZENITH field.

The remaining two permits were approved for Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP in Dunn County. Both permits, #43174 for the KELLY 1C well and #43175 for the KELLY 2A well, are located in the NE NW of Section 11, Township 145 North, Range 96 West. The report lists the field for both Burlington wells as 'CONFIDENTIAL'.

The approvals indicate continued drilling interest in the southwestern corridor of the Bakken region. Stark County, home to the Zenith and Green River fields, is a established oil-producing area. Dunn County is a core county within the Williston Basin and one of North Dakota's top producers.

Murfin Drilling's activity represents all the disclosed permit activity in Stark County. The company's filings suggest development on a single pad or unit, given the sequential numbering and shared "WAGNER" well name across different fields.

Burlington Resources' permits point to a multi-well project in Dunn County. The consecutive numbering and shared legal location for the KELLY 1C and KELLY 2A wells are typical of modern pad drilling operations. The confidential field designation is sometimes used by operators for new field discoveries or strategic development areas.

No other categories, such as permits applied for, wells spudded, or completions reported, were listed in this daily report. The DMR's daily activity report provides a snapshot of the previous day's regulatory filings for oil and gas operations in the state.

Source

North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Daily Activity Report for July 30, 2026.

dmrdrilling permitsstark countydunn countymurfin drillingburlington resourcesbakkenwilliston basin

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