Hess, Oasis Secure New Permits; Continental Renews Five

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved four new drilling permits in filings from Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Hess Bakken Investments II LLC was the most active operator, securing three permits, while Oasis Petroleum North America LLC received one.

Hess's approved permits are for a three-well project in Mountrail County. All three wells, designated RS-PIEPKORN- 155-92-1208H-4, H-5, and H-6, are located in the Stanley field. Oasis Petroleum's single new permit is for the TUNNOCK 5303 12-2 2BX well in Williams County's Lake Trenton field.

In a separate filing action, Continental Resources, Inc. renewed five confidential drilling permits. All five renewals are for wells in Williams County. The permits, numbered #38907 through #38911, are for locations in the Pleasant Valley and Beaver Lodge fields.

According to the DMR report, the renewals for the MCCLINTOCK 9-13H and 10-13H1 wells are noted as having a "LOCATION OUTSIDE OF SPACING UNIT." The renewals for the MCCLINTOCK 2-13HSL, 3-13H1, and 4-13H wells are all marked for a "PROPOSED DRILLBACK OUTSIDE OF SPACING UNIT." The confidential status of these permits was maintained.

The additional information section of the daily report listed a filing for Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. The filing, for permit #41359 on the MARVIN 27-34 2H well in McKenzie County's Camp field, was categorized under confidential status changes.

Tuesday's permit activity was concentrated in the core Bakken counties of Mountrail, Williams, and McKenzie. The new permits for Hess continue development in Mountrail County, a longstanding active area for the operator. The renewal activity by Continental Resources highlights ongoing project planning and regulatory compliance work in Williams County, even for wells not yet drilled.