Hess Secures Lone Permit as Devon, Enerplus Report Confidential Status Changes

North Dakota's Department of Mineral Resources approved a single new drilling permit on Friday, April 24, while seven wells from other operators emerged from confidential status, according to the agency's daily activity report.

The sole permit approved was for Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC. The permit, #42860, is for the GO-DANIEL- 156-98-0322H-3 well in Williams County within the Wheelock field.

The report also listed seven wells that had their confidential status terminated. This change allows their production data to become publicly reported.

Enerplus Resources USA Corporation had three wells in Dunn County's Little Knife field transition from confidential status. The wells are the LIND 145-97-2-11-2H-WLL, LIND 145-97-2-11-3H, and LIND 145-97-2-11-4H, all located in Lot 4 of Section 2, Township 145N, Range 97W.

Devon Energy Williston, L.L.C. reported three wells exiting confidential status across two counties. In McKenzie County's Camp field, the MARVIN 27-34 4H and MARVIN 27-34 5H wells, located in the SE SW of Section 22-152N-101W, are now public. In Williams County's Briar Creek field, the FINN 13-25F 4H well in the NE SE of Section 12-152N-104W also had its status changed.

A seventh well, operated by Burlington Resources Oil & Gas Company LP, also left confidential status. The OMLID 6-8-7 MBH well is situated in the SE SW of Section 7-151N-97W in McKenzie County's Elidah field.

The activity highlights ongoing operations in the core areas of the Williston Basin. The new Hess permit is in Williams County, a consistently active area for Bakken development. The status changes for Devon and Enerplus wells are concentrated in Dunn, McKenzie, and Williams counties, which are among North Dakota's top oil-producing regions.

The termination of confidential status for these seven wells is a routine administrative step that follows an initial period where well production data is withheld. Their emergence will provide a clearer picture of recent completion results for Enerplus, Devon, and Burlington Resources in the coming months as their initial production figures become public record.