Operators
Operators listed for the Bakken include Continental Resources, Chord Energy, EOG Resources and Hess. Chevron completed its purchase of Hess on 18 July 2025.
North Dakota Bakken · industrial
Industrial Mobile Phone Distributor in North Dakota Bakken
The Bakken is a shale oil formation in the Williston Basin of western North Dakota, centred on towns such as Williston and Watford City. Bakken oil began flowing in the 1950s at Antelope Field, but large-scale growth only followed the discovery of the Parshall Field in 2007. Distribution partners for Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin) are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
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 topicindustrial
DeviceMobile Phone
RouteDistribution
WhereNorth Dakota Bakken
Short answer. Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin) has no appointed SAMS distributor yet: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued, launch planned for Q4 2026), and distributor applications are open.
For the record, no certificate exists for the IS-04Z1 today. The programme is under way ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · industrial
Checklist: industrial mobile phone for Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin)
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Ingress protection | IP rating for dust and water | IP68 design |
| Fleet management | EMM and MDM support | Android 16 with EMM and MDM |
| Explosion protection | A separate certificate and marking | In progress; not issued |
| Where it applies | Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin): Gas gathering and processing, Crude loading facilities, Drilling rigs | Classified by the site operator |
Product · North Dakota Bakken
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 North Dakota Bakken. 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 · Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin)
Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin): where the IS-04Z1 would work
Who operates there and which kinds of classified area a handset would meet, from the SAMS site research.
Operators and companies on site
- Continental Resources
- Chord Energy
- Chevron (via Hess)
- EOG Resources
Classified areas to expect
- Drilling rigs
- Wellsites and tank batteries
- Gas gathering and processing
- Crude loading facilities
Local conditions · Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin)
Site conditions at Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin): what wears and what limits equipment
Environment
The setting is remote, with cold winters. Low-temperature performance and battery life are practical concerns for portable equipment.
Field notes · Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin)
More about Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin) that matters for portable equipment
Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin): logistics and access
Williston Basin International Airport opened in 2019 and Amtrak's Empire Builder stops once daily in each direction, while the area has no fixed-route bus service.
Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin): geography and layout
The city sits at the crossroads of US Highways 2 and 85, near the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, about 18 miles from Montana and 60 miles from the Canadian border.
Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin): infrastructure
Satellite land-cover data show about 46 square kilometres of developed land around Williston in 2024, showing how energy development left a lasting footprint on a rural town.
Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin): geography and layout
Williston sits close to the centre of the Williston Basin, directly above the Bakken Formation, which is among the largest oil fields in the United States.
The term · industrial
What “industrial” means for a smartphone
“Industrial” describes a phone built for plant conditions: sealed, drop-resistant and manageable at fleet scale through Android Enterprise. It does not by itself mean the phone may enter a classified area. Only a device with a valid explosion-protection certificate and marking may do that.
The IS-04Z1 is designed to be both an industrial Android phone (IP68, 4,000 mAh battery, 50 MP camera, Android 16 with EMM and MDM support) and an intrinsically safe one. Its explosion-protection certificates are in progress and have not been issued.
In Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin). Operators such as Continental Resources, Chord Energy and EOG Resources use field service contractors who move between leases. EMM or MDM enrolment lets a contractor manage a fleet across these clients. Charging is done in safe areas such as trucks and offices, and remote coverage means offline workflows deserve testing.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in North Dakota Bakken
Distribution of the IS-04Z1 is by authorised partners only, and SAMS has not yet granted a territory for Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin). Each application is reviewed on its merits. Because opening a certified Ex handset in an ordinary workshop invalidates its certificate, the partner must be able to support and service the device locally.
What SAMS looks for in a partner
- Operator relationships
- Existing supplier registrations or a clear route to them with the main operators and contractors in Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin).
- Ex-competent staff
- People who understand zone classification, markings and the conditions of a certificate.
And equally important
- Local-language support
- Documentation, training and helpdesk in the languages the workforce uses.
- Service capability
- Spares, battery replacement and repair routed through SAMS-approved channels.
Questions · North Dakota Bakken
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an industrial mobile phone in North Dakota Bakken today?
Not yet. The IS-04Z1 is pre-launch and its certification is still in progress ahead of a Q4 2026 launch. No unit goes into a classified area before the certificate covering it exists. The datasheet, the certification schedule and safe-area evaluation units are available now.
What does an industrial mobile phone in North Dakota Bakken cost?
SAMS has not published a price. Any figure you are offered for an uncertified Ex phone should be treated with caution; written indicative pricing is available for a defined quantity and site.
Is the IS-04Z1 an industrial phone as well as an Ex phone?
Yes by design: IP68 sealing, a 4,000 mAh battery, a 50 MP camera and Android 16 with EMM and MDM support. The explosion-protection certificates are separate and still in progress.
Which areas at Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin) would use it?
Likely candidates are drilling rigs, wellsites and tank batteries, gas gathering and processing, crude loading facilities. Which areas are classified, and to what zone, is set by the site operator's own area classification drawings.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin)?
Apply through the distributor page with your company details and the territory you cover. SAMS reviews applications company by company and has not yet granted a territory for Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin).
How do I get to Williston from overseas?
Williston Basin International Airport opened in 2019 and is the closest airport, usually reached through a larger US hub. Allow for road transfers and winter weather delays, and agree site access in advance.
Are Bakken sites very remote?
Many wellpads and processing plants are spread over rural plains, with Williston acting as the main service base. Confirm network coverage, emergency contact procedures and lone-worker policies with the operator, because coverage and response times differ from city sites.
Which regulator sets the rules for oil and gas work here?
The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Division oversees oil and gas activity. It does not approve phones. Equipment requirements generally come from operators and field service contractors, and SAMS holds no certificate yet, so ask the relevant operator what it would accept.
Related guides
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United States market guideCertification route and regulators
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Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin)
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin), United States
Tell us what you need to equip and where. The SAMS team answers by email with the datasheet and where each certification route stands.
Enquiry · Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin)
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for North Dakota Bakken?
Name the site and the operator and we will send what is available before launch.