Home | Department of Mineral Resources, North Dakota

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Oil and Gas

Regulates the drilling and production of oil and natural gas in North Dakota in a manner that will realize the greatest possible good from our state's vital natural resources.

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Geological Survey

Primary source of geological information in the state. Publishes maps and reports on the mineralogical, paleontological, and geochemical resources of North Dakota.

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Paleontology

The Paleontology Dept manages the public fossil dig program, collections database, and provides both scientific and educational resources about our great state's fossils.

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About DMR

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About DMR

The Legislature created the Industrial Commission of North Dakota in 1919 to conduct and manage, on behalf of the State, certain utilities, industries, enterprises, and business projects established by state law. The North Dakota Industrial Commission is made up of :

Doug Burgum, Governor
Wayne Stenehjem, Attorney General
Doug Goehring, Agriculture Commissioner

The Industrial Commission has jurisdiction over oil and gas resources, the investigation and publication of geological information and the regulation of coal exploration, geophysical exploration, geothermal energy, paleontology resources, subsurface minerals, geophysical exploration, underground storage and retrieval of nonhydrocarbons, high-level radioactive waste disposal, and carbon dioxide underground storage in North Dakota through the Department of Mineral Resources Geological Survey and Oil and Gas Division.

The Industrial Commission appoints the Director of the Department of Mineral Resources, who serves as Director of the Oil and Gas Division and appoints the State Geologist and Assistant Director of the Oil and Gas Division.

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Lynn D. Helms, Ph.D., Director Department of Mineral Resources

Lynn earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Lynn has served as Director of the North Dakota Industrial Commission Oil & Gas Division since July 1998, then Director of the Department of Mineral Resources since it was formed in July 2005.

Bruce E. Hicks, Assistant Director Oil and Gas Division

Bruce Hicks has an Engineering Degree from the University of North Dakota. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state and has been employed with the ND Industrial Commission for many years. He has held several positions, including Water Injection Supervisor, and Manager of Horizontal Drilling, and currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Oil and Gas Division.

Edward C. Murphy, Assistant Director of Geological Survey, State Geologist

Edward C. Murphy has a B.S. in Geology and an M.S. in Geology from the University of North Dakota. He has worked as a geologist for the North Dakota Geological Survey and the Department of Mineral Resources for 43 years and 19 as State Geologist.

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DMR News and Resources:

Burgum calls for tax relief, infrastructure investment, and economic growth in 2023 State of State Address

IIJA Letter Sent to Landowners Regarding Abandoned Wells

Wells Under Consideration to be Returned to Prior Operator

Ordinary High Water Mark

NorthSTAR - North Dakota Statewide Tracking and Reporting System Information

Quick Links:

North Dakota Industrial Commission

Pipeline Authority

Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC)

Unified Spill Reporting System

Chemical Disclosure Registry

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)