Operators
Diamondback Energy is based in Midland and focuses on the Permian. ExxonMobil acquired Pioneer Natural Resources, a large Midland Basin acreage holder, on 3 May 2024.
Permian Basin · explosion proof
Explosion-Proof Smartphone in Permian Basin
The Permian Basin covers more than 86,000 square miles of West Texas and south-east New Mexico and is the highest-producing oil field in the United States. The basin averaged about 4.2 million barrels of crude a day in 2019, making it the highest-producing oil field in the United States. This page explains what to look for in an explosion proof smartphone for Permian Basin, and where the IS-04Z1 stands against that list today.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicexplosion proof
DeviceSmartphone
RouteSpecification
WherePermian Basin
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for Permian Basin: pre-launch, designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), with certification in progress and no certificate issued.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. An operator's own vendor approval is a separate step. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · explosion proof
Checklist: explosion proof smartphone for Permian Basin
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Protection concept | Flameproof (Ex d) or intrinsic safety (Ex i) | Intrinsic safety, level ib |
| Zone suitability | Zone 1 gas and Zone 21 dust | Design target for Zone 1 and 21 |
| Certificate | Number, issuing body and schedule of conditions | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Permian Basin: Drilling rigs, Wellsites and tank batteries, Compressor stations | Classified by the site operator |
Product · Permian Basin
The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.
SAMS IS-04Z1
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in Permian Basin. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
- IP68 sealed
- 4,000 mAh battery
- 50 MP camera
- Android 16
- Zone 1 / Zone 21 design target
The site · Permian Basin
Working in Permian Basin: operators and classified areas
The companies on site and the hazardous-area types a handset is likely to meet there.
Operators and companies on site
- Diamondback Energy
- ExxonMobil (through Pioneer)
Classified areas to expect
- Drilling rigs
- Wellsites and tank batteries
- Compressor stations
- Gas processing plants
Local conditions · Permian Basin
Conditions in Permian Basin that affect handheld equipment
Environment
The climate is hot and arid, and sites are spread over long distances, so vehicle-based access is normal.
Field notes · Permian Basin
More about Permian Basin that matters for portable equipment
Permian Basin: industry on the ground
The wider Permian Basin accounts for nearly 40 percent of United States oil production and nearly 15 percent of its natural gas, according to figures cited by the Texas Railroad Commission.
Permian Basin: geography and layout
The Permian Basin is about 250 miles wide and 300 miles long, spans West Texas and southeastern New Mexico and is made up of more than 7,000 fields.
Permian Basin: background
The first commercial well in the basin came in at the Westbrook Field in Mitchell County in 1921, at a depth of about 2,500 feet.
Permian Basin: who works there
Midland, Odessa and San Angelo serve as headquarters for much of the basin's oil production activity, so most contractors and service firms are based there.
The term · explosion proof
What “explosion proof” means for a smartphone
“Explosion proof” is the phrase most buyers use for equipment that may be taken into a classified hazardous area. Strictly, it covers several protection concepts: a flameproof enclosure (Ex d) contains an internal explosion, while intrinsic safety (Ex i) limits electrical energy so that an ignition cannot start. Phones are normally intrinsically safe, because a flameproof handset would be too heavy to carry all shift.
The IS-04Z1 uses intrinsic safety, with a marking target of Ex ib IIC T4, and is designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21. It is pre-launch, certification is in progress and no certificate has been issued.
In Permian Basin. Permian crews say explosion-proof for any gear approved near rigs, wellsites, tank batteries, compressor stations and gas plants. The real concepts are flameproof Ex d and intrinsic safety, and they behave differently. The IS-04Z1 is designed for intrinsic safety, targeting an Ex ib marking, not a flameproof enclosure.
The route · specification
Specifying an explosion proof smartphone for Permian Basin
A short checklist for anyone writing or reviewing the specification, with the IS-04Z1 status against each point.
Check on the paper
- Marking
- Equipment group, category, protection concept, gas group and temperature class, matched to the area drawing.
- Certificate and schedule
- A certificate number, issuing body and the schedule of conditions, not a brochure claim.
- Standards edition
- The IEC 60079 or national standard edition the certificate was issued against.
Check for the IS-04Z1
- Marking target
- II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4: a target, not yet a certificate.
- Certificate status
- IECEx, ATEX, UKEX and NEC 500 in progress; none issued.
- Operator approval
- Separate from the certificate and handled with the site operator.
Questions · Permian Basin
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an explosion proof smartphone in Permian Basin today?
Not today. Until the certificates are issued the IS-04Z1 stays out of classified areas, and until launch there is nothing to purchase. You can ask for the datasheet and the certification schedule, or book a safe-area evaluation unit.
What does an explosion proof smartphone in Permian Basin cost?
There is no list price yet. SAMS gives indicative pre-launch pricing in writing, against a stated quantity and site, and does not commit to a lead time before certification completes.
Is the IS-04Z1 explosion proof or intrinsically safe?
It is intrinsically safe (marking target Ex ib IIC T4), which is the usual way to make a phone for hazardous areas. It is not a flameproof (Ex d) design, and certification is still in progress.
Which areas at Permian Basin would use it?
Likely candidates are drilling rigs, wellsites and tank batteries, compressor stations, gas processing plants. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
Is intrinsically safe the same as explosion proof?
Not exactly. Explosion proof is a broad everyday term; intrinsic safety is one protection concept, which limits energy so ignition cannot occur. Flameproof (Ex d) is a different concept that contains an explosion. The IS-04Z1 is intrinsically safe by design.
How large is the Permian Basin for site planning?
It covers roughly 86,000 square miles across West Texas and New Mexico, so travel between sites can be long. Plan around the main service hubs of Midland and Odessa, and confirm the exact location and gate rules for each facility.
What hazardous areas are typical in Permian oil and gas operations?
Wellpads, tank batteries, gas processing plants and compressor stations can all contain flammable gas and vapour. The operator classifies each location, and you should obtain the area drawings and approval requirements before taking any device there.
Do Permian operators set their own rules for phones in classified areas?
Yes, producers and service companies normally set their own equipment requirements. The Railroad Commission of Texas regulates oil and gas, but it does not approve handsets. The IS-04Z1 has no certificate yet. Confirm requirements with the site operator before any field trial.
Related guides
Keep exploring
Other guides for Permian Basin, other places in United States, and the pages behind them.
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Distributor in Permian BasinSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone in Permian BasinSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone in Permian BasinSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone in Permian BasinSame place, different guide
IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Permian BasinSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone in Permian BasinSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in HoustonElsewhere in United States
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Midland OdessaElsewhere in United States
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Gulf of Mexico RigsElsewhere in United States
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in Beaumont TexasElsewhere in United States
United States market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for United StatesEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Permian Basin
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Permian Basin, United States
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Permian Basin
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for Permian Basin?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.