MRP 301: Listener Questions September 2025 – The Mineral Rights Podcast

In this 301st episode, we kick off with a special announcement followed by answering questions from Marissa, Kelly, Kevin, Mark, Arthur, and Suzanne. From lithium royalty rates, how to obtain marketable title, to complex Texas pooling regulations, to a success story that led a listener to discover new permitted wells on their minerals, we’ve got you covered! This episode emphasizes how important it is to learn how to research using state commission websites, understanding the difference between receiving payments and having marketable title, and recognizing that sudden increases in purchase offers often signal upcoming drilling activity worth investigating before selling.

As before, many of the questions in this episode are covered in more depth in my Mineral Management Basics online course, including how to read a legal description, perform a title search, identify nearby oil and gas activity, and determine whether 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

What is an average lithium royalty rate?

Marisa

Listener Question #2

Good morning Mr. Sands. I was hoping you could guide me in the right direction. My siblings and I are in the process of filing a simple probate in California Probate Courts. My Grandmother is deceased. My mother was an only child and past away in 2024. There is no will. My Grandmother had lost the deeds and any paperwork proving she was the rightful owner. My question is how do we know how much it’s worth. I contacted California resources and found a customer ID number, but they said the last 1099 they have is for 1999. How do I find out if there is a way to get it active again? Is it worth anything if we want to sell it? Any information or guidance – we would appreciate it.

Thank you for your time,
Kelly

Listener Question #3

Matt

I have a question. We have wells in Rusk County that are operated now by TGNR. We are expecting to be pooled into a Haynesville Shale horizontal drill at some point, (hopefully soon). What should we be expecting to receive in the mail when that happens? A Pooling Agreement? If so, will we receive that prior to the permit being filed?

Thanks Much,

Kevin

Listener Question #4

I am grateful that I have discovered this podcast. My wife and I own mineral rights in Howard County in Texas. We currently have two producing vertical wells. We have always received requests to purchase our mineral rights. Recently, offers have jumped up significantly. By learning how to use the Texas RRC website from this podcast, we have learned that there are 4 new horizontal permits issued for our land. It will be exciting to see what happens next. We are also using an app recommended by the operator to track rigs near us. Our operator has 2 rigs drilling adjacent to us. I hope that means they will drill us soon! Needless to say, we are not selling!

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Thank you for helping us,

Mark

Listener Question #5

Perhaps you can help. My dad sold farm many years ago and split mineral rights (half went to buyer). Since then my dad has died. My brothers and I received some royalties from Oil Company out of Canada. They never drilled as for as I know. Since them, all my brothers have died. I can’t find anything that shows my ownership of mineral rights.

Arthur

Listener Question #6

I purchased mineral rights from my father that he inherited from his mother. Her estate was intestate and not probated. He filed an heirship title then sold to me with a warranty deed. I eventually sold them on a quit-claim deed. My cousin sold his in the same format from an heirship title with no probate.

When it was discovered, the oil company he sold his to required him to go through court and get her will probated. They said the sale was invalid without probate first then the heirship.

Does this mean that my purchase from my dad was invalid? Does this also mean my sale to the company is also invalid? I am willing to refund the buyer.

Thank you so much

Suzanne

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

Mineral Rights Education

Mineral Management Basics Online Course
National Association of Royalty Owners (For a limited time, use coupon code “MRPODCAST” for $25 off an Introductory Membership. Good only for first-time members).
1-on-1 Coaching with Matt

How Mineral Rights are Valued

Inheritance

Mineral Rights Research

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

Check out the free form letter I’ve created for you to contact your operator about late or missing royalty payments.

Pooling

Lithium

Taxes

Thanks for Listening!

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Leave a comment or listener question below (we read each one and your question may be featured in a future episode)!
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Thanks again – until next time!

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