The State Is Your Secret Mineral Partner
Why your 'private' West Texas minerals might actually belong to the State—and what the Relinquishment Act means for your family's land.
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The Mineral Rights Journal
Expert insights to help mineral owners make informed decisions
The 500% Penalty Prairie — How Nebraska Can Force-Pool You and Hold Back Your Share Until the Well Pays Out at 5x
Nebraska's forced pooling laws carry a massive 500% risk penalty for unleased mineral owners. Here is how the math actually works.
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The 3/16 Safety Valve: Alabama’s Weird Forced-Pooling Math
Alabama has a unique forced-pooling law. If you say no, the operator can hit you with a 150% penalty—but they still have to pay you a 3/16 royalty.
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“The Bond-On Threat” — How Utah Lets an Operator Drill Anyway After ‘Good Faith’ Talks Fail
Utah’s Surface Owner Protection Act sounds protective. But when push comes to shove, an operator can post a $6,000 bond and drill on your land anyway.
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“The One-Eighth Fakeout” — How Pennsylvania’s ‘Guaranteed Minimum Royalty’ Still Lets Owners Get Squeezed
Pennsylvania law guarantees a 12.5% minimum royalty. We explain how legal loopholes and the net-back method legally shrink that number.
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The Duhig Guillotine: How One Bad Deed Can Delete Your Mineral Rights
A quirky Texas title rule can automatically erase the minerals you thought your family reserved decades ago. Here is how the math works.
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“The 30-Day Trigger Letter” — How One Certified Demand Can Double Your Royalties in Louisiana
When Louisiana operators stop paying royalties, phone calls won't fix it. Learn how a specific written demand unlocks double damages and forces their hand.
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“Your Check Stub Is a Crime Scene” — North Dakota Makes Bad Royalty Statements a Class B Misdemeanor
North Dakota law gives mineral owners powerful tools to fight bad check stubs, including criminal penalties, audit rights, and high interest rates.
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The Storage Field You Never Leased: Illinois Gas Storage Condemnation
How the Illinois Gas Storage Act allows companies to forcefully turn your family's subsurface into a natural gas storage facility.
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What Happens to Your Royalties When the Well Depletes?
That massive first royalty check won't last forever. Here is what actually happens as oil and gas wells age, decline, and eventually stop producing.
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The 120/60/90-Day Clock: How Montana Turns Late Royalty Checks Into High-Interest Debt
Montana law doesn't just ask operators to pay royalties on time. It sets strict deadlines, imposes heavy interest, and demands line-item check stubs.
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The Zombie Field Next Door: How Kern County’s Idle Wells Turn Royalties Into Liabilities
Kern County operators are caught between massive idle well fees and drilling bans. Here is how their financial crisis impacts your mineral rights.
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