Dear Buddy, in North Dakota all O&G well permits are confidential and my best understanding is that the true six month confidential period does not begin until it is requested and it is up to the operator to decide when to request confidential status. From what I have seen most operators request confidential status when total depth is reached and the backlog on getting wells fracked means that the confidential period frequently expires before wells are completed. I think there may be an interesting loophole there as the state does not expect reports since the operator has not even requested confidential status. Monthly production is public record, but to find monthly production for confidential wells you have to go to general statistics on the NDIC O&G site and search monthly production reports which usually run 45 days behind. General Statistics and the Monthly Production Reports open very slow for me, I have to really want to know before I am willing to wait that long. I have seen wells where the status is confidential AND for which the state has posted production numbers under a normal well search, this is unusual. My theory is that these wells are still being classed as confidential under the automatic confidentiality of permitted wells and that the operator has not requested that the confidential period begin. If you are just looking for raw production figures for a confidential well, General Statistics and the Monthly Production Report will probably serve your needs. I hope this helps, as I wouldn't want to have to count the number of times you have helped me Buddy! Bob