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BAKKEN WIRE
Five New Permits Approved in Dunn, Divide Counties; Foundation Renews Five - Bakken Wire
Daily Activity

Five New Permits Approved in Dunn, Divide Counties; Foundation Renews Five

Formentera Operations leads new filings with four confidential permits in Divide County, while Burlington Resources files one in Dunn.

Bakken Wire Staff·☀️Morning Wire·

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved five new drilling permits in filings dated Wednesday, May 20, 2026, according to the agency's daily activity report. The new permits were split between operators in Dunn and Divide counties.

Formentera Operations, LLC was the most active filer, securing four new confidential permits in Divide County. All four permits are for the Bernadette pad: Bernadette-13-01-PGN N512H, N614H, N516H, and N617H. The filings indicate continued development on a multi-well pad in a confidential field.

The remaining new permit was awarded to Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP for the Firebird 1A well, located in NW NE 12-145N-96W in Dunn County. This permit is also for a confidential field.

In other activity, Foundation Energy Management, LLC successfully renewed five existing permits in Billings County. The renewals are for the Elkhorn Ranch Federal pad: wells 143-102-1-12-1H, 1-12-2H, 1-12-3H, 1-12-4H, and 2-11-3H. All are located in the Elkhorn Ranch field, signaling the company's ongoing commitment to the unit.

The report also listed one additional filing for a confidential status change. Kraken Operating, LLC submitted a filing for the Steen LW 12-13-24 #10H well in NE NE 11-149N-101W, McKenzie County, within the Antelope Creek field.

The day's filings show a focus on the western and northwestern regions of the Bakken formation, with activity in Divide, Dunn, Billings, and McKenzie counties. The use of confidential status for new permits is a common practice, allowing operators to withhold specific geologic data for a period before public disclosure.

Source

North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Daily Activity Report for May 20, 2026.

dmrdrilling permitsformentera operationsburlington resourcesfoundation energy managementdunn countydivide countybillings county

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