Six New Permits Approved; Enerplus Leads with Four-Well Pad in Williams County

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved six new drilling permits in filings dated Wednesday, August 26, 2026, with Enerplus Resources USA Corporation accounting for the majority of the activity, according to the daily activity report.

Enerplus secured four permits for a new pad in Williams County. The permits are for the GIANT PANDA 5700 43-9 2B, 3B, 4B, and 5B wells, all located in SW SE 9- 157N-100W within the Church field. This four-well batch indicates continued development by a major operator in the core of the Bakken formation.

Formentera Operations: LLC was approved for two new permits, both designated as confidential. The permits, #43254 and #43255, are for the TORO CANYON-16-32-DIV S517HF and S619HX wells in Divide County. The confidential status of these permits and their field limits public details on the specific targets.

In other activity, the confidentiality status was lifted on four previously approved permits held by Phoenix Operating LLC in McKenzie County. The affected permits are #42574 through #42577 for the RIDE THE LIGHTNING FED 18-19-30-31 1HF, 2HF, 3HF, and 4HF wells. The wells are located in LOT 1 18- 149N-102W and NE NW 18-149N-102W. This change makes the well information publicly available, a standard procedural step following the initial confidential period.

The day's permits show activity concentrated in three key Bakken counties: Williams, Divide, and McKenzie. Williams and McKenzie counties are longstanding core production areas within the Williston Basin, while Divide County represents a more northwestern extension of the play.

The report highlights a mix of development strategies, from Enerplus's multi-well pad development to Formentera's new, confidential projects. The lifting of confidentiality for Phoenix Operating's permits provides greater transparency for nearby mineral owners and industry observers tracking development in that specific section of McKenzie County.