NEWS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | September 9, 2026
Incident Reported in Divide County
BISMARCK, ND – Prima Exploration, Inc. notified the North Dakota Oil and Gas Division of a produced water spill at the Smoky Butte 1 SWD site. The incident occurred on September 8, 2026, approximately 36 miles north of Williston, North Dakota.
Prima Exploration, Inc. reported that 800 barrels of produced water were released onto location. As of September 9, 2026, a total of 1,000 barrels has been recovered, including 200 barrels of rainwater.
A North Dakota Oil and Gas inspector has been to the location and will monitor any additional cleanup required.
Federal and state laws require operators to report the spillage of any materials that may pollute water, air or soil. Visit spill.nd.gov for more information about North Dakota’s Unified Spill Reporting System notifications and the public access tool.