Scale
The basin averaged 4.2 million barrels of crude a day in 2019 and has Midland and Delaware sub-basins separated by the Central Basin Platform.
Permian Basin · intrinsically safe
Intrinsically Safe 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. Zone 1 work arises at drilling rigs, wellsites, tank batteries, compressor stations and gas plants. If you are specifying an intrinsically safe smartphone for Permian 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 topicintrinsically safe
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.
Current position: certification in progress, nothing issued, launch targeted for Q4 2026. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · intrinsically safe
Checklist: intrinsically safe smartphone for Permian Basin
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Level of protection | ia, ib or ic matched to the zone | ib, for Zone 1 |
| Entity parameters | Uo, Io and Po within the device limits | Published with the certificate |
| Accessories | Chargers and cases certified with the device | Defined at certification |
| 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
Permian 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
- 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
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.
Field notes · Permian Basin
More about Permian Basin that matters for portable equipment
Permian Basin: geography and layout
The basin has three main parts: the Midland Basin to the east, the Delaware Basin to the west and the Central Basin Platform between them, covering about 86,000 square miles.
Permian Basin: projects and investment
Today the basin is developed mainly through horizontal wells that target several stacked formations from one surface location, which concentrates activity on large multi-well pads.
Permian Basin: infrastructure
About 80 percent of the basin's estimated reserves lie at depths of less than 10,000 feet, which is a useful figure when judging drilling and well-site activity.
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.
The term · intrinsically safe
What “intrinsically safe” means for a smartphone
Intrinsic safety limits the electrical and thermal energy in a circuit so that neither a spark nor a hot surface can ignite a gas or dust atmosphere, even when a fault occurs. The ib level, used for Zone 1, tolerates one fault. It is the usual way to make a handheld device that a worker carries continuously through a hazardous area.
The IS-04Z1 is designed on this principle for Zone 1 and Zone 21 (marking target II 2 G Ex ib IIC T4). Intrinsic safety is a design basis, not a certificate: certification is in progress and none has been issued yet.
In Permian Basin. Permian field rounds cover many wellsites and tank batteries spread over long distances, with a technician entering classified space repeatedly. An intrinsically safe handset is designed for that, with a 50 MP camera for records and Android 16 for field applications. Certification must be completed before use in Zone 1.
The route · specification
Specifying an intrinsically safe 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 intrinsically safe smartphone in Permian Basin 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 intrinsically safe 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.
What does ‘intrinsically safe’ mean for the IS-04Z1?
The circuits are designed to limit energy so a spark or hot surface cannot ignite a gas or dust atmosphere, even with one fault (level ib, Zone 1). Certification of that design is 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
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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
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
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.