Phoenix Operating Leads Daily Permits with Four-Well Ranch Creek Pad

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved five new drilling permits on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, according to the agency's daily activity report. Phoenix Operating LLC was the most active applicant, securing four permits for a single pad location in McKenzie County.

All four Phoenix Operating permits are for the MORRIS pad in the Ranch Creek field, located in SE SW of Section 11-146N-99W. The approved wells are the MORRIS 11-2-35-26 1H, 2H, 3H, and 4H. This batch of permits signals continued development in the core Bakken area of McKenzie County.

The fifth permit issued Tuesday was to Hunt Oil Company for the PALERMO 156-90-24-25H-4 well, according to the report. This well is located in Mountrail County at SW SE of Section 13-156N-90W. The filing did not specify a field name for this location.

In a separate category for confidential status changes, Enerplus Resources USA Corporation reported activity on seven wells in McKenzie County. The wells, all located in the SE SW of Section 31-149N-94W, are: MHA BRECKENRIDGE 4994 42-31 7B; MHA FLY 4994 42-31-3BX; MHA TELLURIDE 4994 42-31-5B; MHA KEYSTONE 4994 42-31-6T; MHA ASPEN 4994 42-31-8B; MHA KATMAI 4994 42-31-11BX; and MHA OLYMPIC 4994 42-31-10B.

The report indicates these Enerplus wells have undergone a change in their confidential status. In North Dakota, operators can apply for confidential status for a well for up to six months, typically covering the initial drilling and completion phase before production data becomes public.

Tuesday's permitting activity was concentrated in the western Bakken core, with all but one permit located in McKenzie County. The consistent permitting by operators like Phoenix Operating in specific fields such as Ranch Creek highlights ongoing strategic development in high-productivity areas.

The confidential status updates for multiple Enerplus wells in a single section suggest the company is advancing a significant multi-well project through its early operational phases. Such batch updates are common when a pad moves from drilling to completion or begins initial production.

The daily activity report provides a snapshot of near-term drilling plans and well progression. The five new permits add to the state's inventory of locations awaiting spud, while the status changes offer a glimpse into the active development pipeline not yet visible in public production statistics.