Kraken Operating Secures Four New Permits in McKenzie County

Kraken Operating LLC was the sole operator to secure new drilling permits in the latest daily activity report from the North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources. The agency approved four new permits for the company, all filed on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

All four permits are for wells in McKenzie County and are designated as "confidential." The permits are for the MERCURY 32-29-20 #1H, #2H, #3H, and #4H, according to the DMR report. The confidential status typically shields specific well details from public disclosure for a limited time.

The concentrated activity by Kraken in a single area suggests a focused development plan for a particular lease or unit in McKenzie County, which is a core area of the Bakken formation. No other operators received new permit approvals in the Wednesday report.

In additional information from the DMR, a previously permitted well by Slawson Exploration Company Inc. saw a status update. The SHAD RAP FEDERAL 3-2-3H, located in Mountrail County's Big Bend field, was listed. The report noted its location as NE NE 11- 151N-91W.

The update for the Slawson well, permit #42167, indicates ongoing administrative activity for existing permits, though the specific nature of the change was not detailed in the report. Mountrail County is another key oil-producing region within the Williston Basin.

The day's permitting activity highlights a quiet period for new applications, with only one operator moving forward with new plans. Industry observers often view confidential filings as a strategic move by operators to protect proprietary geological data or drilling plans from competitors before operations commence.

The lack of permit diversity in the report underscores the variable pace of regulatory filings, which can be influenced by commodity prices, operator budgeting cycles, and rig availability. All new activity remains concentrated in the Bakken's traditional core counties.