Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Report 19618 approved four permits for Slawson Exploration on the Ambush pad in Williams County, all development wells. Two saltwater disposal permits were approved in McKenzie County, and two wells came off confidential status in Mountrail and Dunn counties.

Highlights

4 permits approved: Slawson Exploration, Williams County (Ambush 2, 3, 4 and 5 wells, section 31-156N-101W)
2 saltwater disposal permits approved in McKenzie County, including True Oil's Liberty State 12-36H SWD
2 wells released from confidential status: Silver Hill Energy (Mountrail County) and Enerplus (Dunn County)

The report lists an active daily rig count of 37 (unchanged from the prior report).

What it means for mineral owners: A four-well pad is a common development pattern in the Bakken; if your minerals sit in section 31 or nearby, the permits show who is drilling and how many wells to expect.

Read the official report (PDF)

Summarized by Fort Union from the Commission's daily activity report; entries shown are a selection, not the full list. The official PDF controls. See also all daily reports and the NDIC News RSS feed.