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BAKKEN WIRE
Daily Activity

Six New Permits Filed in Bakken as XTO, Silver Hill Lead Activity

The North Dakota DMR approved permits for Dunn and Burke counties, with additional status changes for wells across the region.

Bakken Wire Staff·☀️Morning Wire·

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved six new drilling permits in filings dated Wednesday, October 21, 2026, according to the agency's daily activity report. The permits signal continued development in the Bakken formation's core Dunn County area and outlying Burke County.

Operator XTO Energy Inc. filed for three permits in a single Dunn County spacing unit, according to the DMR report. The permits, #42866, #42867, and #42877, are all for the Nautilus Federal project in Section 19-148N-96W. Silver Hill Energy Operating LLC also filed two permits, #40419 and #40420, for wells in Burke County. The remaining permit, #43431, was filed by Devon Energy Williston L.L.C. for a confidential location in Dunn County's Clark North field.

Beyond new permits, the DMR report listed several changes to well statuses. Two Enerplus Resources USA Corporation wells, Crying Tree 147-97-8-5-7H and 8H in Dunn County's Little Knife field, had their confidential status removed. A Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC well in Williams County's Ray field also had its confidential status removed.

One permit was canceled, according to the report. Empire North Dakota LLC's permit #40732 for the Fat Penguin 29 1H well in Bottineau County was canceled. Additionally, one disposal well was reported as completed: Tobacco Garden SWD LLC's Galaxy West SWD in McKenzie County.

The report also noted a well name change for an existing permit. Silver Hill Energy Operating's permit #40419, originally for the Maple Leaf 161-93-15-3-1MBHX, was changed to Maple Leaf 161-93-15-3-1TFHX in Burke County.

The day's activity underscores ongoing operator focus on Dunn County, a central Bakken production area, with four of the six new permits located there. The filings by XTO Energy in a single unit suggest concentrated development activity. Burke County, located in the northwestern fringe of the Williston Basin, also saw new permit activity.

Source

North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Daily Activity Report for October 21, 2026

dmrdrilling permitsxto energysilver hill energydunn countyburke countybakkenwilliston basin

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