The Alaska Exception: Why You Can’t Lease Mineral Rights on the North Slope
Unlike the Lower 48, Alaska's private subsurface wealth is governed by massive Native corporations. Here is how ANCSA replaced royalty checks with dividends.
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Articles: Education
97 articles in this topic
Oklahoma & New Mexico: The BIA Allotment Trust Bottleneck
Why mineral royalties on allotted Indian lands get stuck in federal trust accounts for years, and how the BIA's dual-consent trap complicates leasing.
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The Dunham Rule: Why Your Pennsylvania 'Mineral' Deed Might Be Worthless
A century-old Pennsylvania law says a deed reserving 'minerals' doesn't include oil or gas. Here is how the Dunham Rule catches modern heirs off guard.
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The Texas Receivership Trap: How a Local Judge Can Sign Your Oil Lease
When operators can't find missing mineral owners, Texas law allows a county judge to sign a lease on their behalf. Here is how the receivership process works.
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Colorado's "First Marketable Product" Shield: Why Your Deductions Might Be Illegal
Colorado law protects mineral owners from post-production costs, yet out-of-state operators quietly deduct them anyway. Here is why your check might be short.
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Kansas: The Helium Wildcard: Is Your Old Gas Lease Giving Away the Ultimate Premium Asset?
Your family's old Kansas natural gas lease might secretly be producing high-value helium. Here is why operators are pocketing the premium and what you can do.
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Utah's 'Yellow Wax' Discount: Why Uinta Basin Geology Shrinks Your Oil Check
Why does Uinta Basin crude trade for less than WTI? We explain the physical reality of waxy crude, the transportation nightmare, and your royalty check.
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The “Mother Hubbard” Trap: How One Boilerplate Sentence Can Accidentally Lease Your Adjacent Texas Minerals for Free
You negotiated a premium lease bonus. But a hidden catch-all clause just gave your neighboring tract to the operator for nothing. Here is how to fix it.
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The "Naked Owner" Trap: Who Gets the Royalties When a Louisiana Estate is Split?
Louisiana handles inherited mineral rights completely differently than the rest of the country. We explain the usufruct, naked ownership, and who gets paid.
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Michigan — The 20-Year Reversion Trap: How Michigan Oil and Gas Rights Can Quietly Go Back to the Surface Owner
Michigan’s Dormant Minerals Act turns family oil and gas rights into a ticking clock. Learn how to stop your minerals from reverting to the surface owner.
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Oklahoma — The Infill Well Trap: How Increased-Density Orders Change Your Royalty
That OCC notice in your mailbox isn't junk mail. Here is how Oklahoma operators use increased-density orders to drill more wells on your existing lease.
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Texas — The Retained-Acreage Trap: How One Texas Well Can Hold More Minerals Than You Think
A single producing well can lock up your entire Texas mineral lease for decades. Here is how retained acreage and depth severance clauses actually work.
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