MRP 282: Listener Questions - April 2025 – The Mineral Rights Podcast

In this month’s episode, we answer listener questions submitted by Jonathan, Stephen, Lisa, Michael, Nancy, James, and Greg. From interpreting well production tests, cost of mineral rights valuations, emerging lithium opportunities in Pennsylvania, concerns about missing royalty payments after an operator bankruptcy, understanding why your well was shut in, timing mineral sales around the election and lithium rights in leases, and filing mineral deeds after a surface property sale.

Many of the questions in this episode are covered in more depth in my Mineral Management Basics online course, from how to read a legal description, how to perform a title search, and how to identify nearby oil and gas activity, and how to determine if you should be getting paid on a well.

Thanks again to everyone who left a review or who submitted a listener question! If you have a question about your minerals or royalties, you can send it to feedback@mineralrightspodcast.com!

If this has been helpful, please take a moment and leave us an honest rating & review on Apple Podcasts. This feedback really helps keep us going and helps make sure that we are putting out content that is tailored to your needs.

Listener Question #1

Matt,
Since inheriting some mineral rights from my late mother, your site has been a great help. My dad operated in the oilfield in the 80s and 90s, and still has producing minerals all over Texas and New Mexico. But he never really brought me into the business. I’ve always known I would inherit his minerals, but he’s wanted me to learn on my own, the way he did when his dad passed. Luckily, these minerals from my mother’s side are seeing lots of activity in the area. While my dad has been a great help and is excited for me to learn hands-on, he is at the age where he gets some things confused from time to time, so I could use some help. I’ve signed a lease and am starting to look at the wells surrounding my minerals to gauge what kind of production levels are in the area. My question is regarding the 24-hour oil potential tests that I’ve found under various wells ‘ W-2s through TRRC. I’ve seen some wells that showed an initial potential of 150 to 250 bbls in 24 hours, but they go on to produce roughly 20,000 bbls per month (600-700 per day.) That’s roughly triple the result of the 24-hour potential tests. I’ve seen another one that has just reported their W-2 as producing 649 bbls in 24 hours. This one is far above any of the others in the area. Am I to believe that this will follow along mathematically with the others (i.e. triple the 24-hour test for actual production)? Or is there no definitive correlation?
Thanks,
Stephen

Listener Question #2

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the podcasts. They have been extremely helpful. Right now our largest issue is getting my mom’s mineral rights in ND appraised. We are told title searches need to be accomplished to ensure fair market value is accurate.

We are attempting to buy out at fair market value to ensure the mineral rights stay in the family.

I appreciate all the information on how to research in ND. They do not seem to have an online presence. We have opted to get an attorney involved, who has recommended a company out of Williston, ND. That would be my big question. How do we determine whether we are choosing a reputable landman and if their pricing for services is fair? They are currently requesting we pay $1150 to complete the appraisal + $3450 to complete the title search.

Thanks,

Lisa

Listener Question #3

My name is Michael. I recently read your article about the pot of lithium found in Southwestern, PA. I am really excited to hear the news and would love to get to know more about it. I would love to be apart of it.

Also, I like to ask if you all know when the plan will be to go after lithium, how do property owners know if they have the rights, and how to determine if the property has lithium or not?

I own property in Fayette County, PA located in Star Junction, Pa. I would be interested selling or leasing my land if the right opportunity came to me. In addition, be a great spot for battery storage as well. Can you point me in the direction who I can talk with about my property, learning more about lithium, and how can I be apart of it.

Michael

Listener Question #4

Hi Matt,

I have a situation I’m hoping you can shed some light on.

I have owned mineral rights and received monthly checks for more than a decade on a property that Bayshore Energy/Atlas Operating bought from Kinder Morgan in March 2024. The last check I received from KM was for May 2024 production. Since then, I have received no checks and no division order from Atlas. My family members and I have called and emailed Atlas numerous times, but they have only responded twice by phone (but not to me). They indicated they were going to send checks “in two or three weeks” or “next week,” but the weeks go by and we have not received anything.

We recently discovered online that Atlas was petitioned for involuntary bankruptcy on August 23, 2024. Since we do not have any documentation from Atlas, I am not sure how to proceed without hiring a lawyer. Is it enough to send them an Operator Notice Letter like the one you sent me or do we need to file a proof of claim? These mineral rights have been in my family for more than 50 years, and it is hard to imagine that we could suddenly lose them due to Atlas’s bankruptcy. Any suggestions?

Thank you,

Nancy

Listener Question #5

I just found your podcast and enjoyed reading MRP 57 and 53.

Can you tell me where I can find out why a producer Shut In an existing well? I checked the Texas Railroad Commission and other sources, some say our well is Type: Shut In and Production Method is “flowing” but some other sources just say Shut-In. Nowhere can I find a reason for the shut in, or how long it will last.

I have contacted the producer but they say they may not reply for 120 days.

Thanks,

James

Listener Question #6

Hi Matt,

Love the show. I have inherited Mineral Rights. Yes I’m another one….

Questions:

Is it better to wait until after the election to sell my Mineral rights?

AND

I think you broke the story about finding lithium in the waste water produced by natural gas wells ( sorry my lingo may be a bit rough). That said should I have my lease amended to include what might be lithium that may be in the water?

Looking forward to hearing from you .

Greg

Listener Question #7

Hi Matt,

I purchased your course and have found it very beneficial.

In 2014, I purchased property in Texas and the sales contract states that I bought all of the mineral rights with the property. This property had been part of a larger tract but the surface was partitioned in 1967. The minerals remained undivided and have never been divided. Therefore, when I purchased the property, I believed I was buying interest in the seller’s portion of the undivided interest in the property. Is that a correct assumption? I have since sold the surface but retained the minerals. However, I have not filed a mineral deed on what I believe I own. How do I proceed with filing the mineral deed and am I correct that my minerals are part of the larger undivided interest?

Thanks in advance.

Jonathan

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Mineral Rights Education

Valuing Mineral Rights

Matt’s company, Silverheels Investments & Consulting provides mineral rights consulting and advisory services. We perform mineral valuations and appraisals and a myriad of other consulting services to meet the needs of mineral owners large and small. If you would like to understand what your mineral rights and royalties are worth, please contact Matt today for a free consultation.
MRP 84: The Top 6 Things That Affect The Value of Mineral Rights and Royalties
MRP 194: How Do You Calculate Mineral Rights Value?
MRP 4: How Mineral Rights are Valued

Books

Never Split the Difference by former FBI Hostage Negotiator Chris Voss is THE book on negotiation.

How to Make Sure You are Getting Paid Correctly

Mineral Rights Research

How to Negotiate a Lease / Surface Use Agreement

What Happens if My Lease Gets Sold (or if I Signed a Lease with a Company that is not the Operator)?

What to do if My Well Gets “Shut-in”?

Thanks for Listening!

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