Cornerstone Natural Resources LLC is a North Dakota Bakken operator concentrated entirely in Burke County, running a 68-well portfolio (27 active, 33 producing, 2 plugged) as of September 2026. The company is in active expansion mode: 8 wells are authorized across pending cases, 2 new spacing-unit applications (cases 33174 and 33175) go to hearing on September 23, 2026, and the ML model assigns both a 99.8% progression probability. A historical win rate of 85% and a ramp score of 10.0 round out a picture of a focused, momentum-driven operator pressing deeper into the Northeast Foothills-, Coteau-, Little Butte-, and Clayton-Bakken pools.
All regulatory activity is concentrated in Burke County. Two spacing-unit cases — 33174 and 33175 — are set for the September 23, 2026 hearing. Case 33174 covers Sections 18, 19, 30, and 31 of T.161N., R.90W., targeting the Northeast Foothills-Bakken, Coteau-Bakken, and South Coteau-Bakken pools across a 2,560-acre unit with 4 wells authorized; it sits in a section with 11 prior wells, confirming this is infill, not greenfield. Case 33175 covers Sections 23, 26, and 35 of T.161N., R.91W., targeting the Little Butte-Bakken and Clayton-Bakken pools across a 1,920-acre unit with 4 wells authorized; 5 prior wells exist in that footprint. Two earlier cases — 32990 (1,920-acre spacing unit, Northeast Foothills-/Little Butte-/Clayton-Bakken, T.161N. R.91W.) and 32991 (2,560-acre field extension, Northeast Foothills-/Coteau-/South Coteau-/Lostwood-Bakken, T.161N.–T.162N. R.90W.) — were heard July 29, 2026, and remain pending order. Together, the four cases authorize 4 wells each, all in the same Burke County township corridor.
The total well count stands at 68: 27 active, 33 producing now, and 2 plugged. The near-absence of plugged wells relative to total portfolio size is notable (see Stands Out). Work types on record span the full development cycle — drilling rigs, frac crews, frac sand, new-pad dirt and construction, and water logistics and trucking — consistent with a self-directed operator running its own pad programs rather than relying on a single service relationship.
No signed orders are on file in the current bundle. The 2 pending cases both carry a 99.8% ML progression probability and are classified as high relevance. The operator's historical win rate is 85%. The momentum ramp score is 10.0, with 8 wells authorized across pending cases and the next hearing date of September 23, 2026. All momentum activity is in Burke County.