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BAKKEN WIRE
Daily Activity

Four New Permits Approved in Divide County, Confidential Statuses Change

Formentera Operations LLC secures three confidential permits as Hess, Devon, and Oasis wells move to public status.

Bakken Wire Staff·☀️Morning Wire·

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved four new drilling permits in filings from Tuesday, August 25, 2026, all located in Divide County. Three of the permits were granted to Formentera Operations LLC for its "THE HIGH ROAD" project.

Formentera Operations LLC received permits #43250, #43251, and #43252 for the THE HIGH ROAD-04-21-DIV N512HF, N514HF, and N616HF wells, respectively. According to the DMR report, all three Formentera permits are listed for the 'CONFIDENTIAL' field. The fourth permit, #42985, was issued to Phoenix Operating LLC for the GINA FERRARI 13-12-1 2H well in Divide County.

The DMR report also detailed changes to the confidential status of several previously filed permits. Eight permits were newly assigned "CONFIDENTIAL" status. These include:

  • Oasis Petroleum North America LLC's STATE 9-25-24BH in McKenzie County.
  • Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation's KOALA 31-25-2H, WOLD FEDERAL 44-1-1H, and FLATLAND 24-9-2XH, all in McKenzie County.
  • Oasis Petroleum North America LLC's AAGVIK 5298 42-23 9B in McKenzie County.
  • Enerplus Resources USA Corporation's OLSON 146-97-10-6H in Dunn County.
  • Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC's BB-STATE-151-96-2536H-14 in McKenzie County.
  • Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C's LOOMER 11-2 8H in McKenzie County.

One well was released from confidential status. Permit #42429 for Oasis Petroleum North America LLC's PRESTWICK FEDERAL 5602 12-23 3B well in the Bonetrail field of Williams County is now public.

Tuesday's filing activity highlights continued operator interest in Divide County, particularly from Formentera Operations. The shift of multiple major operator wells—including those from Hess, Devon, Oasis, and Whiting—into confidential status indicates new drilling plans are being shielded from public view, a common practice for up to six months. The release of the Oasis well in Williams County suggests that project is moving forward from the planning phase.

Source

North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Daily Activity Report for August 25, 2026

dmrdrilling permitsdivide countymckenzie countywilliams countyformentera operationsphoenix operatingconfidential status

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