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Williston Basin Deep Fossil Aquifer — Western North Dakota

McKenzie, North Dakota, USA

Extremely deep Madison Group aquifer beneath the Williston Basin. Contains fossil water dating to the Pleistocene, confined under thousands of feet of overlying formations. Water temperature increases with depth — some wells produce warm water suitable for geothermal use.

76Grade A
High Value
Private
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Overview

Extremely deep Madison Group aquifer beneath the Williston Basin. Contains fossil water dating to the Pleistocene, confined under thousands of feet of overlying formations. Water temperature increases with depth — some wells produce warm water suitable for geothermal use.

Additional Notes

North Dakota State Water Commission deep aquifer. Water ages exceed 30,000 years at depth.

Water Source Data

Asset TypeFossil Water
Flow Rate100 GPM
Seasonal FlowNo (perennial)
Depth3,500 ft

Water Intelligence Score Breakdown

Total: 76/100
Flow RateGeologicalLegal RightsSustainabilityRarity
Flow Rate
Yield & consistency
18/25
Geological
Formation quality
15/20
Legal Rights
Rights clarity
18/20
Sustainability
Long-term viability
10/20
Rarity
Scarcity premium
15/15

Risk Assessment

Overall: High(58/100)
Dry-up Risk
High
30/40

Source depletion probability

LowCritical
Legal Risk
High
18/35

Rights & regulatory exposure

LowCritical
Environmental
Medium
10/25

Contamination & ecosystem risk

LowCritical

Geological Intelligence

Formation & aquifer context
Rock Type
Sedimentary
Carbonate rock

Variable porosity — classic aquifer formation

Aquifer Type
Fossil
fossil

Ancient water, no modern recharge — non-renewable on human timescales

Formation
Madison Group
Basin
—
Elevation
—
Region
—

Land Details

Private
Acreage
—
Asking Price
Not listed
Buildable
Unknown
Zoning
—
Parcel ID
—

Water Rights

Unverified

Prior Appropriation

First in time, first in right

Rights are established by historical beneficial use. Senior rights holders receive full allocation before junior holders, regardless of land ownership.

  • Seniority date determines priority order
  • Requires continuous beneficial use
  • Can be severed from land and transferred
  • "Use it or lose it" — abandonment risk
Common in western US states (CO, MT, WY, ID, NV, UT, AZ, NM, OR, WA, CA)• Asset location: North Dakota

Disclaimer: Water rights information is provided for research and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Rights status, seniority, transferability, and enforceability vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Always consult a licensed water rights attorney and verify status with the relevant state water resources agency before any acquisition or use decision.

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Location

Latitude47.75
Longitude-103.25
State/ProvinceNorth Dakota
CountyMcKenzie
CountryUSA
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Data Sources & Attribution

Updated Apr 4, 2026
Primary Source
hi3_fossil_water_research

Data is sourced from public and authoritative providers. Hi3 Water aggregates, normalizes, and scores records but does not assert ownership of underlying source data. Always verify critical details with the primary source before any decision.

Data Quality

Silver Quality
Gold = Field verified + lab tested
Silver = Reported + partial verification
Bronze = User reported
Unverified = Pending review

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