Hess, Murfin Secure New Bakken Permits; Devon Confidential Wells Released

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved four new drilling permits on Monday, June 8, with Hess Bakken Investments II accounting for three of them. The agency also released seven wells from confidential status, revealing new production data from operators including Devon Energy and Slawson Exploration.

Hess Bakken Investments II was the most active applicant, securing permits for three horizontal wells in McKenzie County. Two permits, #43011 and #43012, are for the AN-MELBY- 152-95-1030H-1 and AN-MELBY- 152-95-1030H-2 wells in the Antelope field. The third, #43010, is for the HA-STATE- 152-95-1621H-10 well in the Hawkeye field. The fourth new permit, #43009, was issued to Murfin Drilling Company for the KINZEL 1-33H well in Dunn County's St. Anthony field.

One permit renewal was filed on Monday. True Oil LLC renewed permit #41998 for the ERIE FEDERAL 11-3 3-10 TF1H well in McKenzie County's Bowline field. The filing notes the work is a proposed drillback outside of the well's original spacing unit.

The DMR also reported seven wells were released from confidential status, making their initial production data public. Two are operated by Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C.: the OWAN TRUST NORTH 29-28-27F 4H in Williams County and the DROVDAL 5-8 3H in McKenzie County.

Two wells operated by Slawson Exploration Company, Inc., in Mountrail County's Big Bend field were released: the SAUGER FEDERAL 5-22UH and the CANNONBALL FEDERAL 4-27-34H. Enerplus Resources USA Corporation had one well released: the GAZELLE 148-94-03A-10H in Dunn County's McGregory Buttes field.

Two wells operated by Formentera Operations, LLC, in Burke County's Foothills field were also released from confidential status: the FTH-22-34-BND S518HF and the MAVERICK-22-10-BND N618H.

The new permit activity continues to center on the core Bakken counties of McKenzie and Dunn. The release of confidential wells provides the market with its first look at the early performance of recent completions from a diverse set of operators across multiple counties.