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Whiting, Enerplus Lead Daily Permitting with Six New Bakken Wells - Bakken Wire
Daily Activity

Whiting, Enerplus Lead Daily Permitting with Six New Bakken Wells

North Dakota regulators approved permits for three wells each in the Foreman Butte and Tyrone fields, while five other wells saw confidential status changes.

Bakken Wire Staff·☀️Morning Wire·

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources approved six new drilling permits on Wednesday, April 15, split evenly between Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation and Enerplus Resources USA Corporation, according to the agency's daily activity report.

Whiting received three permits for the Roosevelt Federal 5003 pad in the Foreman Butte field of McKenzie County. The permitted wells, #42843, #42844, and #42845, are all located in Section 24-150N-103W. This activity highlights continued operator interest in the central core of the Bakken formation.

Enerplus was also authorized for three new wells in Williams County's Tyrone field. Permits #42846 and #42847 are for the Orcas State 5601 pad, while permit #42848 is for the Berger 5601 pad. All three Enerplus wells are located on Lot 2 of Section 13-150N-103W, indicating a multi-well development project.

In addition to the new permits, the DMR report listed confidential status changes for five previously filed wells. These changes often indicate that a well has been completed and is preparing to begin production, moving from confidential status to an active reporting status.

Two of these changes were for Oasis Petroleum North America LLC wells on the Davidson 5795 pad in Williams County (Section 33-157N-95W). Two more were for Hess Bakken Investments II, LLC wells on the GO-Lemire pad, also in Williams County (Section 36-157N-97W). A fifth status change was reported for a Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation well, the Paulson 5104 in McKenzie County (Section 13-151N-104W).

The day's permitting activity was concentrated in two of North Dakota's most prolific oil-producing counties. McKenzie and Williams Counties are home to the bulk of Bakken shale production. The new permits suggest operators are continuing to drill within established, high-productivity areas of the Williston Basin.

The confidential status changes for wells operated by Oasis, Hess, and Whiting point to upcoming additions to the state's oil and gas production totals. Once these wells begin reporting, their initial production figures will provide a key indicator of well performance in their respective areas.

Source

North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Daily Activity Report for April 15, 2026.

dmrdrilling permitswhiting oil and gasenerplusoasis petroleumhessmckenzie countywilliams countybakken

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