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North Dakota single oil & gas well bonds.
$2,525 flat.

A North Dakota operator drilling a single well can bond it on its own with a $50,000 single-well bond filed with the Industrial Commission. Ours is $2,525 — set by our carrier's rate book for this bond, identical for every operator. A quick soft credit check may apply; the bond is issued when you pay.

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Covers one oil, gas, or injection well filed with the Industrial Commission (Department of Mineral Resources)

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Fixed amount, fixed price — $50,000 single-well bond, $2,525, no quote theater

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A quick soft credit check may apply — never a hard inquiry, no impact on your score

$2,525flat, per year of termInstantissued the moment you paySoft pullnever a hard inquiry

Trusted by industry leaders

How it works

Three steps to bonded.

Your drilling permit is waiting on this bond. Here is the whole process — no broker phone tag:

TODAY · ONLINE

Apply once, online

Business details, owner information, effective date. That is the application — the only extra step is a one-time consent to a soft credit pull.

RIGHT AWAY

Approved

Most are approved as soon as you apply. The credit check is a soft pull that never affects your score. If it needs a second look, one to two business days at most.

WHEN YOU PAY

File with the Industrial Commission

Pay online and receive the executed single-well bond, ready to file with the Department of Mineral Resources for your well. Wet-ink originals mailed whenever the state insists.

About this bond

What it is and who needs it.

What the single-well bond actually guarantees

North Dakota requires every operator to bond its wells before drilling, so the state is never left paying to plug and clean up an abandoned well. The bond is a plugging-and-reclamation guarantee: it endures up to and including approved plugging of the well and dry holes, plus practical reclamation of the well site.

A single-well bond covers one well in the amount of $50,000 — the right choice for an operator running just one or two wells. It is conditioned on full compliance with N.D.C.C. ch. 38-08 and the rules and orders of the Industrial Commission. (A commercial injection well is bonded at $100,000 instead — tell us if that is your situation.)

If you operate several wells, a $100,000 blanket bond is usually the cheaper path. If the surety pays to plug your well, the operator repays the surety — operators who plug and reclaim on schedule treat the bond as a permit formality, not a risk.

N.D. Admin. Code 43-02-03-15North Dakota's oil and gas conservation rules (N.D. Admin. Code 43-02-03-15, under N.D.C.C. ch. 38-08) require a drilling and plugging bond before construction. A single-well bond is set at $50,000 (commercial injection wells at $100,000), conditioned on compliance with ch. 38-08 and the Industrial Commission's rules and orders. The director may approve a lesser amount for a well 2,000 feet or less in depth, and the Commission may require more based on expected plugging and reclamation cost.

You need this bond if you are

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Drilling a single well and would rather bond it on its own than under a blanket

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A small operator running one or two wells

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Applying for a drilling permit the Industrial Commission conditions on a bond

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Replacing an expiring bond to keep your well continuously covered

One application, issued instantly.

These are the actual underwriting fields, including a one-time consent to a soft credit check. Submit once and your bond is issued when you pay.

Start the application →

FAQ

Common questions.

Do I pay the $50,000?No. You pay $2,525 — the price our carrier sets for this bond. The $50,000 is the surety's maximum liability for plugging and reclamation; it is not a deposit, and nobody holds your money.

Single-well or blanket bond — which do I need?A single-well bond ($50,000) covers one well and suits operators running just one or two. If you run several wells, a $100,000 blanket bond covers them all under one instrument and is usually cheaper. We write both.

Who requires this bond?The North Dakota Industrial Commission, through its Department of Mineral Resources, under N.D. Admin. Code 43-02-03-15 and N.D.C.C. ch. 38-08. No active bond, no drilling.

What about shallow wells?For a well 2,000 feet or less in depth, the director may approve a lesser bond amount. If your well qualifies, we can write it at the reduced figure the director approves — see our single-well-by-depth pages.

Is there a credit check?A quick soft credit check may apply — never a hard inquiry, no impact on your score. It informs approval; the price stays $2,525 per year of term either way.

Which A-rated carriers underwrite these bonds?Typically Arch Insurance Company (A.M. Best A+) or Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (A.M. Best A). Which one writes your bond depends on the bond type and your state. The carrier's name and official signature are printed on the bond you receive.

How do I contact Light RFP about this bond?Email insurance@lightrfp.com. It reaches the bond team at Light RFP Risk Management Services LLC (NY DFS License # PC-1978982). Write to us about quotes, applications, bond forms or certificates. We will respond within 24 hours.

Related bonds

Other North Dakota bonds.

Single-well bond, ready to file.

$2,525, short application, bond issued when you pay. Free until issued.

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Your price$2,525

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