History
Oil was discovered in the Williston Basin in 1951. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing lifted output, and North Dakota and Montana together passed 1 million barrels a day in April 2014.
North Dakota Bakken · industrial
Industrial Mobile Phone 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. Zone 1 work arises at drilling rigs, wellsites, tank batteries and gas gathering facilities. If you are specifying an industrial mobile phone for Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin), this page covers the markings, the approvals and the current certification status 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
RouteSpecification
WhereNorth Dakota Bakken
Short answer. The SAMS IS-04Z1 is the intrinsically safe smartphone covered here for Bakken, North Dakota (Williston 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. 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): Drilling rigs, Wellsites and tank batteries, Gas gathering and processing | 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) at a glance: who is there, what is classified
A short profile of the site and the kinds of classified area that matter for portable equipment.
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)
Conditions in Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin) that affect handheld equipment
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.
Field notes · Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin)
More about Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin) that matters for portable equipment
Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin): industry on the ground
North Dakota crude oil production passed 1.0 million barrels a day, driven by the Bakken and Three Forks formations of the Williston Basin in North Dakota and eastern Montana.
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): background
Bakken oil began flowing in the 1950s at Antelope Field, but large-scale growth only followed the discovery of the Parshall Field in 2007.
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.
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 · specification
Specifying an industrial mobile phone for North Dakota Bakken
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 · North Dakota Bakken
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an industrial mobile phone in North Dakota Bakken today?
No. Nothing can be bought or taken into a classified area today: certification is in progress and launch is planned for Q4 2026. What is available now is the datasheet, the written certification schedule and evaluation units for safe-area use.
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.
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.
What equipment issues are specific to oil production wellpads?
Wellpads and associated tank and compressor areas can contain flammable gas and vapour, and the operator defines classified areas and approvals. Always ask for the site's area classification and equipment policy before entering.
How cold does it get for Bakken fieldwork, and what does that mean for handsets?
Williston records a January mean around 11.5 degrees Fahrenheit and several days a year at minus 20 or lower. Check a handset's low-temperature operating range and battery performance in the cold, and keep spare batteries warm inside clothing.
How does North Dakota winter affect a handheld in the field?
The Bakken is remote with cold winters, so low-temperature performance and battery life are practical concerns for portable equipment. Check the datasheet's operating range once published, keep spare charged devices in a safe, warm area, and trial the phone in your own conditions. Confirm limits with the site operator.
Related guides
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Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone Distributor in North Dakota BakkenSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone in North Dakota BakkenSame place, different guide
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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
Send the site, zone and gas group and roughly how many handsets. We reply by email with the datasheet and the certification schedule.
Enquiry · Bakken, North Dakota (Williston Basin)
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for North Dakota Bakken?
Tell us the zone, gas group and operator. We will send the datasheet and the certification schedule.