BISMARCK, N.D.—One of North America’s most consequential energy formations—the Williston Basin—will be showcased at the 33rd Annual Williston Basin Petroleum Conference (WBPC). For more than three decades, the WBPC has become a “who’s who” of industry experts and leadership in the Bakken, providing some of the best networking opportunities with key decision makers in an engaging and exciting setting.

This premier event returns to Bismarck May 19-21, 2026, with a theme that is both reflective and forward-looking: “75 Years of Oil Dominance.”

During a panel discussion at noon on the first day, North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness will set the stage, emphasizing both the achievements of the past and the urgency of the future. North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong will also participate in the panel. His presence alongside other state leadership at the event reinforces the deep connection between policy and production in a state where oil is not just an industry but a defining economic force.

Kathy Neset, past chair of the North Dakota Petroleum Council (NDPC) and distinguished member of the NDPC Hall of Fame, rounds out the panel discussion by highlighting the milestones reached since North Dakota’s first commercial oil well in 1951. This first panel of the conference, titled “Showcasing North Dakota’s Oil History,” will reflect on the basin’s development and milestones from the last 75 years.

What makes the 2026 conference particularly significant is how clearly it reflects the broader state of the oil and gas sector. The theme of “75 Years of Oil Dominance” is not merely a celebration of past achievements, though there is certainly pride in the basin’s history. It is also an acknowledgment of the challenges that lie ahead.

The 2026 WBPC will feature more than 70 speakers and presenters, including CEOs from Chord Energy, ConocoPhillips, Devon Energy, and other major companies actively operating in North Dakota. The agenda also includes a panel in which several mid-cap operators—Hunt Oil, Silver Hill Energy Partners, Kraken Operating, and Formentera Operations—will discuss their efforts to expand Williston Basin plays.

The conference trade show has expanded to allow for more than 340 indoor and outdoor booths. Exhibitors will be connected with the expected 2,000 plus attendees, and participants will build relationships during networking events scheduled throughout the conference. For many attendees, these moments of connection are the most valuable part of the experience, reinforcing the conference’s role as a hub for collaboration in an industry that depends on relationships as much as technology.

As the agenda unfolds, the conference splits into multiple tracks, each offering a different lens on the basin’s future. The breakout sessions dive deep into operational challenges, highlighting best practices and new advances in technology. Engineers and field experts present solutions that optimize performance, demonstrating the industry’s continued focus on efficiency. The technical track is where theory meets application and where companies’ pilot projects are showcased.

These tracks cover a range of topics, including how to handle rich gas, reduce emissions, prevent pipeline leaks, optimize artificial lift, and enhance oil recovery.

The “Bakken 2.0: Crack the Code” theme of Wednesday’s agenda will be dedicated to improving oil recovery techniques, a topic that has gained increasing attention as the basin matures. For decades, the Bakken’s story has been one of rapid growth driven by horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Now, the focus is shifting toward maximizing recovery from existing wells and reservoirs, making enhanced oil recovery central to the basin’s next phase.

The morning agenda on the main stage will feature keynote presentations from two prominent leaders shaping the future of American energy. Kyle Haustveit, assistant secretary for the Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, is leading a bold national strategy focused on energy technology, security, and resource development. Danny Brown, president and CEO of Chord Energy, will share frontline insight from the heart of the Williston Basin, where innovation and operational excellence are driving U.S. production forward.

Together, they offer a rare, high-impact perspective bridging federal strategy and industry execution, delivering a dynamic conversation on where energy is today and where it’s headed next.

The “Road to Energy Dominance” panel brings together an influential group of industry leaders who are at the forefront of advancing America’s energy future. Todd Staples of the Texas Oil and Gas Association, Missi Currier of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, Edith Naegele of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and NDPC’s Ron Ness each represent critical regions and perspectives driving U.S. production and policy.

Together, they will explore the path to sustained energy leadership—highlighting the role of innovation, regulatory certainty, workforce development, and strategic collaboration across states and at the national level. This dynamic discussion will offer attendees a comprehensive view of how key producing regions and industry advocates are working in concert to strengthen energy security, fuel economic growth, and position the United States as a global energy powerhouse.

Additional Wednesday sessions include “Bakken Natural Gas: The Time is Now,” “A New Approach to Compliance,” and “Innovative Drilling and Completions,” reflecting a mix of regulatory and operational-focused discussions.

Breakout session presentations on surfactant-based recovery methods and full-life-cycle development strategies point to a future in which innovation is about extracting more value from existing resources. In this context, finding new ways to maintain and increase oil production becomes more than a technical concept. It represents a fundamental shift in how the industry approaches longevity and resource development.

Throughout the conference, there is a recurring sense that the Williston Basin is entering a new phase—one defined not by rapid expansion, but by refinement and resilience. The focus is shifting toward doing more with less, improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and extending the life of existing assets.

The conference will close Thursday morning, May 21, with a powerful finale centered on the theme “American Energy Dominance: America 250.” Attendees will hear from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and API President Mike Sommers as they set the stage for America’s energy leadership at a pivotal moment in history.

The closing program includes a fireside chat featuring Ryan Lance, chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips, and Ron Ness, offering candid insights from the top of the industry. The momentum continues with the “America’s Energy Future” panel featuring Pierce H. Norton II of ONEOK and Clay Gaspar of Devon Energy. The panel will be moderated by Kathy Neset, delivering a forward-looking discussion on the path ahead.

WBPC serves not just as a snapshot of the industry at a particular moment, but as a catalyst for what comes next. The story of the Williston Basin has always been one of reinvention, from its early days as a frontier of exploration to its emergence as a cornerstone of American energy production.

The 2026 Williston Basin Petroleum Conference captures this spirit in full, offering a window into an industry that is both honoring its past and actively shaping its future. In the end, the message is clear: the era of oil dominance may have spanned 75 years, but the next chapter of the basin’s story is already being written—and it is one defined by innovation, responsibility, and an enduring commitment to progress.

Visit wbpcnd.com for more information.